The American flag, Old Glory still waves free!

The American flag is a symbol known all over the world. No one knows for sure who designed the first stars and stripes or who made the first one. Congressman Francis Hopkinson seems most likely to have designed it, and a few historians believe that Betsy Ross, a Philadelphia seamstress, made the first American flag. According to many sources, the red, white and blue of the flag did not originally have meaning. Over the years, white has come to stand for purity and innocence; red for hardiness and valor; and blue for vigilance, perseverance and justice.

Few nick names have stayed with the American flag better than “Old Glory”. Captain Stephen Driver, a shipmaster of Salem, Massachusetts, coined this famous name in 1831. Some friends presented him with a beautiful flag of twenty-four stars. As the banner opened to the ocean breeze for the first time, he exclaimed "Old Glory!" Captain Driver's grave is located in the old Nashville City Cemetery, and is one of three places authorized by act of Congress where the Flag of the United States may be flown 24 hours a day.

The American flag has evolved over the to be the flag we know today. The number of stripes has changed and the number of stars represents each of the states in the union. The details of the changes usually occurred as a result of an executive order made by the president of the United States. Today, it is a well-known symbol of freedom around the world.

Also see: latin american flags

About The Author:

Laurie Simpson is a successful author and regular contributor to http://www.1st-in-flags.com. The flags of the world are symbols of recognition full of beauty and color for each country.