June 14

[NutmegCT]

The Second Continental Congress, June 14, 1777. "Resolved, That the flag of the thirteen United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation."

May we always remember, and respect, what our flag stands for.
Tom M.

 

[Basil]

May we always remember, and respect, what our flag stands for.

This flag was flown in a KC-135 over Iraq by my son during combat refueling missions.

 

[mikephillips]

Most don't know that the flag increased the number of stripes to 15 and had plans for 17 as the nation expanded. But it became apparent that this wasn't practical to they went back to 13 stripes for the 13 original colonies.

My Cliff Clavin moment...

 

[Basil]

My Cliff Clavin moment..

Wanna go snipe hunting?

 

[mikephillips]

Sorry, have to deliver my mail to the table

 

[waltesefalcon]

The Serapis flag is still about my all time favorite.

 

[NutmegCT]

Walt - thanks for posting that. Never knew the Serapis story.

Take a look at the crest of the destroyer USS John Paul Jones (DDG 53). The Serapis flag, and the first Navy jack, are included.

 

[waltesefalcon]

For those not familiar, at the Battle of Flamborough Head in 1779 John Paul Jones in the Bonhomme Richard captured the British Serapis, the Bonhomme Richard lost its ensign and was so badly damaged that it sank afterwards. Jones sailed into Dutch territory to reapair and resupply, and while he was there the British wanted him arrested as a pirate since he was sailing in a captured ship with no ensign. He quickly wrote to Paris for a description of the new US ensign and recieved this description which has been written by Benjamin Franklin who was the ambassador at the time:

"It is with pleasure that we acquaint your excellency that the flag of the United States of America consists of thirteen stripes, alternately red, white, and blue; a small square in the upper angle, next the flagstaff, is a blue field, with thirteen white stars, denoting a new constellation."

He quickly had a flag made that fit the description, the Dutch accepted it and entered it into their records along with a sketch of it.