This information is courtesy of the National Flag Foundation. For more than thirty years, National Flag Foundation has been America's leading non-profit patriotic organization devoted to promoting respect for our nation's most important symbol: The Flag of the United States of America. The Foundation's mission is to teach the youth of America to have pride for the flag and to become more responsible citizens. You may visit their site at americanflags.org

Flag Facts

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• The U.S. Flag, adopted on June 14, 1777, is the fourth oldest national flag in the world. Denmark's flag, adopted in 1219, is the oldest.

• A flag expert is called a "vexillologist."

• The blue field on the U.S. Flag is called the "union."

• At his request, since 1834, the U.S. Flag has flown continuously next to the grave of the Revolutionary War hero, the Marquis de Lafayette, near Paris, France.

• June 14 was proclaimed Flag Day by President Woodrow Wilson in 1916. While Flag Day was a popular celebration in scores of communities for many years after Wilson's proclamation, it didn't receive its official Congressional designation until 1949.

• On June 14, 1777 the Founding Fathers gave the United States its first symbol with just 28 words in a jewel-like message: "The Flag of the United States be 13 stripes, alternate red and white, that the Union be 13 stars, white on a blue field representing a new constellation."

• The Founders of the American Republic wanted to give a constant reminder that the Liberty they had bequeathed to was:
  - a "New Constellation" in the firmament of Nations;
  - a "New Constellation" in the galaxy of governments;
  - a "New Constellation" in the relationship of man to government, government to man and
  - both to God.

• Historically in the United States the tallest flag pole was erected outside the Oregon Building at the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco, California and trimmed from a Douglas Fir. The flagpole stood 299 feet 7 inches high and weighed 51.8 tons.

• Currently, the tallest standing flagpole is in Gladsen, AL measuring 242 feet high with a 5 H.P. motor to hoist a flag 60 feet by 100 feet at the Pollock Motor Company premises.

• The Humphreys Flag Company of Philadelphia, PA completed a 505 feet by 255 feet flag in 1992. It weighs one and one-half tons. The flag was commissioned by Ski Demski of Long Beach, CA. The fabric alone cost $30,000 wholesale. Sewing it took "several thousand man hours."