american flag meaning essay

• Latino History
• Youth Engagement, Voting, and Election
• Collections

What the American flag means to you

A child. A truck. A quilt. A gravestone. These are all answers to the questions posed by the Share Your Story project: “What does the American flag stand for? Is it a sacred symbol? Has it meant something important to you? Does it represent you? Have you ever used the flag to make a statement?” Lots of things to think about. Many places your mind could go.

The product of the Star-Spangled Banner “Share Your Story” project is a mosaic of the American flag made up of stories and photos from people like you. Perusing the images and the words that have been submitted, I’m struck by how the flag is used to express different ideas about what it means to be American. It is a sign of freedom. A reference to the federal government. The emblem of a superpower. An icon of loyalty. A symbol of pride as well as a symbol of protest.

One of my favorite submissions is a photo of Don Faulkner , a Navy man who wrote an essay in the eighth grade about what the colors of the flag brought to mind for him. Blue stands for “the waters around the United States that hold it together like a vice holds two pieces of wood together”; white, “the clouds that fly over the United States, so easily without a bump or rough place like the peace of peace time”; and red, “the fire that consumes intruders that try to turn the handle that holds the United States together.”

Another veteran, mercenary2372 is pictured during a 15 month tour in Iraq:”I am holding a flag my dad sent me in the mail. The American Flag stands for freedom and is the symbol of our country that I salute in the morning for reveille and in the evening for taps.” Alongside his photo of flag flying outside the Department of Justice headquarters M.V. Jantzen writes: “I don’t feel the American flag is a sacred symbol, but it does feel like home.” JeanieBeach thinks her photo of a truck stop illustrates how “the American flag captures the rugged determination of Americans to create sanctuary anywhere they find themselves.” And Gelane explains that the young boy pictured in her photo was “born on the army’s birthday, Flag Day!”

With 15 rows of 24 image tiles, we need more than 360 photographs to complete the American flag mosaic. This is your chance to contribute your point of view. In commemoration of Flag Day this year, I hope you’ll share your thoughts and images of what the flag means to you. Spread the word and help us fill up the mosaic !

Dana Allen-Greil is the new media project manager at the National Museum of American History. She likes to think of the flag as a connector . 

History | Updated: July 1, 2024 | Originally Published: March 1, 2007

The Real Story Behind the Star-Spangled Banner, the Flag That Inspired the National Anthem

How the flag that flew proudly over Fort McHenry in September 1814 made its way to the Smithsonian

Cate Lineberry ; Updated by Meilan Solly

On a rainy September 13, 1814, British warships sent a downpour of shells and rockets onto Fort McHenry in Baltimore Harbor, relentlessly pounding the American fort for 25 hours. The bombardment, known as the Battle of Baltimore , came only weeks after British forces attacked Washington, D.C., burning the United States Capitol, the Treasury and the White House (then known as the President’s House). It was another chapter in the ongoing War of 1812 .

A week earlier, Francis Scott Key , a 35-year-old American lawyer, had boarded the flagship of the British fleet on the Chesapeake Bay in hopes of persuading the enemy to release the physician William Beanes, a friend who had recently been arrested. Key’s tactics were successful, but because he and his companions had gained knowledge of the impending attack on Baltimore, the British did not yet let them go. Allowed to return to their own vessel, the Americans remained under heavy scrutiny. On September 13, Key and Beanes watched as the barrage of Fort McHenry began some eight miles away.

“It seemed as though mother earth had opened and was vomiting shot and shell in a sheet of fire and brimstone,” Key later wrote . But when darkness arrived, he saw only red erupting in the night sky. Given the scale of the attack, he was certain the British would win. The hours passed slowly, but in the clearing smoke of “the dawn’s early light” on September 14, he saw the American flag —not the British Union Jack—flying over the fort, announcing an American victory.

Key put his thoughts on paper while still on board the ship, setting his words to the tune of a popular English song. His brother-in-law, commander of a militia at Fort McHenry, read Key’s work and had it distributed under the name “Defense of Fort M’Henry.” The Baltimore Patriot newspaper soon published it, and within weeks, Key’s poem, now called “The Star-Spangled Banner,” appeared in print across the country, immortalizing his words and forever naming the flag it celebrated. The song remained popular throughout the 19th century, emerging as a symbol of unity during the Civil War, but only became the U.S.’s official national anthem in 1931.

The flag that inspired Key’s composition still survives today, though it’s fragile and worn by time. First lent to the Smithsonian Institution in 1907, this iconic artifact is now on view in its own state-of-the-art gallery at the National Museum of American History (NMAH).

“The Star-Spangled Banner is a symbol of American history that ranks with the Statue of Liberty and the Charters of Freedom,” said Brent D. Glass , the museum’s then-director, in 2007. “The fact that it [was] entrusted to the National Museum of American History is an honor.”

The flag’s beginnings

The flag’s history starts not with Key, but rather a year earlier, with Major George Armistead , the commander of Fort McHenry. Knowing that his fort was a likely British target, Armistead, in the summer of 1813, told the commander of Baltimore’s defenses that he needed a flag—a big one: “We, sir, are ready at Fort McHenry to defend Baltimore against invading by the enemy … except that we have no suitable ensign to display over the Star Fort, and it is my desire to have a flag so large that the British will have no difficulty seeing it from a distance.”

Armistead soon hired a 37-year-old widow and professional flagmaker, Mary Young Pickersgill , to make a 30-by-42-foot garrison flag with 15 stars and 15 stripes, one for each of the then-15 states. Over the next six or so weeks, Pickersgill, her daughter, two of her nieces, a 13-year-old indentured servant and possibly her mother used 300 yards of English wool bunting to sew the flag. They made the stars, each measuring two feet in diameter, from cotton—a luxury item at the time. Initially, the group worked in Pickersgill’s home (now a private museum known as the Star-Spangled Banner Flag House ), but as their work progressed, they needed more room, so they moved to a brewery across the street. On August 19, 1813, the flag was delivered to Fort McHenry.

For making the Star-Spangled Banner, Pickersgill was paid $405.90 (almost $8,000 today ). She received another $168.54 (around $3,300 today ) for sewing a smaller, 17-by-25-foot storm flag, likely using the same design. It was this storm flag—not the garrison flag now known as the Star-Spangled Banner—that actually flew during the battle. The garrison flag, according to eyewitness accounts, wasn’t raised until the morning of September 14, 1814.

Armistead remained in command of Fort McHenry for the rest of his short life. Historians are unsure how the Armistead family came into possession of the flag, but upon the military officer’s death in 1818, his wife, Louisa Hughes Armistead, inherited it. She likely sewed a red upside-down “V” (or perhaps the start of the letter “A,” for Armistead) onto the flag. Louisa is also thought to have begun the tradition of giving away pieces of the flag to honor her husband’s memory, as well as the memories of the soldiers who defended the fort under his command.

When Louisa died in 1861, she passed the flag down to her daughter, Georgiana Armistead Appleton , over the legal objections of her son. “Georgiana was the only child born at the fort, and she was named for her father,” said Suzanne Thomassen-Krauss , then a textile conservator at NMAH, in 2007. “Louisa wanted Georgiana to have it.”

The missing pieces

In 1873, Appleton lent the flag to George Preble , a flag historian who had previously thought the artifact was lost. That same year, Preble had the first known photograph of the flag taken at the Boston Navy Yard. He then exhibited it at the New England Historic Genealogical Society, where it remained until 1876.

While the Star-Spangled Banner was under Preble’s care, Appleton allowed him to give away pieces of the flag as he saw fit. She, too, had given away cuttings of the flag to other Armistead descendants, as well as family friends. Appleton once noted , “Had we given all that we have been importuned for, little would be left to show.” This family tradition continued through 1880, when Armistead’s grandson gave away the last documented piece, according to Thomassen-Krauss.

Several of these cuttings from the Star-Spangled Banner have been located over the years, including about a dozen owned by NMAH . “We’re aware of at least a dozen more that exist in other museums and private collections,” said curator Kathleen Kendrick in 2007.

But a missing 15th star has never been found. “There’s a legend that the star was buried with one of the soldiers from Fort McHenry; another says that it was given to Abraham Lincoln,” Kendrick explained. “But no real evidence has surfaced to support these stories, and the true fate of the star remains one of the Smithsonian’s great unsolved mysteries.”

Preserving a national icon at the Smithsonian

After Appleton’s death in 1878, the flag passed to her son Eben Appleton , who lent it to Baltimore for that city’s 1880 sesquicentennial celebration. It remained in a safe deposit vault in New York City until 1907, when Eben lent it to the Smithsonian. Five years later, he made the gift permanent , saying he wanted the flag to belong “to that Institution in the country where it could be conveniently seen by the public and where it would be well cared for.”

When the flag arrived at the Smithsonian, it was smaller, just 30 by 34 feet, damaged from years of use at the fort and the removal of pieces as souvenirs. Recognizing the need for repairs, the Smithsonian hired Amelia Fowler , an embroidery teacher and well-known flag preserver, to replace the canvas backing that had been added in 1873. While working for the United States Naval Academy , Fowler had patented a method of supporting fragile flags with a linen backing that required a honeycomb pattern of stitches. With the help of ten needlewomen, Fowler spent eight weeks in 1914 restoring the flag, receiving $1,243 (around $39,000 today ) for the materials and work.

For the next 50 years, apart from a brief move during World War II, the Star-Spangled Banner was displayed in what is now the Arts and Industries Building . The glass case holding the flag wasn’t long enough to show the entire piece of fabric, so its lower half was folded up.

It was only in 1964 that the public was able to view the flag in its entirety. That year, the flag became the centerpiece of the new National Museum of History and Technology (now NMAH), which had ample space to allow the national treasure to hang freely. The Star-Spangled Banner remained in Flag Hall until 1998, when it taken down to undergo extensive conservation .

Started in 1996, the Star-Spangled Banner preservation project was planned with the help of historians, conservators, curators, engineers and organic scientists. Conservators began working on the flag in 1999, when construction of a conservation lab at the museum was completed. Over the next several years, they clipped 1.7 million stitches from the flag to remove the linen backing that had been added in 1914, lifted debris using dry cosmetic sponges and brushed the flag with an acetone-water mixture to remove soils embedded in fibers. Finally, they added a sheer polyester backing to help support the flag.

“Our goal was to extend [the flag’s] usable lifetime,” said Thomassen-Krauss. The intent was never to make the flag look as it did when it first flew over Fort McHenry. “We didn’t want to change any of the history written on the artifact by stains and soil,” the conservator added. “Those marks tell the flag’s story.”

While the conservators worked, the public looked on. By 2006, when NMAH closed for a two-year renovation , more than 12 million people had peered into the museum’s glass conservation lab to observe the process.

NMAH reopened in November 2008, with the Star-Spangled Banner now displayed in its own climate-controlled gallery. As Glass said ahead of the reopening, “The survival of this flag for nearly 200 years is a visible testimony to the strength and perseverance of this nation, and we hope that it will inspire many more generations to come.”

Reflecting on the Star-Spangled Banner’s significance, Kendrick said:

The Star-Spangled Banner resonates with people in different ways, for different reasons. It’s exciting to realize that you’re looking at the very same flag that Francis Scott Key saw on that September morning in 1814. But the Star-Spangled Banner is more than an artifact—it’s also a national symbol. It evokes powerful emotions and ideas about what it means to be an American.

Get the latest History stories in your inbox?

Click to visit our Privacy Statement .

Cate Lineberry | READ MORE

Cate Lineberry was an associate web editor at Smithsonian magazine.

Meilan Solly | | READ MORE

Meilan Solly is Smithsonian magazine's senior associate digital editor, history.

• Nation & World

Essays: What the U.S. flag means to me

In advance of the Fourth of July, we asked some local and state officials and readers overall this question: “What does the American flag mean to me?”

Sheila Simon , lieutenant governor

Whether we look at our nation’s flag during the Pledge of Allegiance, the national anthem, or to check on the direction of the wind, most of us feel a sense of pride. Pride in being a land of democracy, opportunity and freedom.

But I also look at our flag through the eyes of a seamstress — not Betsy Ross, but me, a mom who has made dresses, playclothes and Halloween outfits for her daughters for two decades.

As a seamstress I see how our flag is put together, and it’s fairly complex. Some nations’ flags are big blocks of color, or even one color with an image printed on it.  No sewing beyond the hems around the edges.

Our flag is pieced. That means each stripe attached to the next and finished off so that there are no loose threads. The blue field is pieced and finished in that same way, and then stars are embroidered on, a process that requires some time when done by hand.

Our country is pieced together in a similar way. States, people and cultures that are not identical are bound together. In southern Illinois, we often talk differently than our northern Illinois neighbors, and Illinoisans talk differently than most folks in the 13 original colonies. But we are all a part of the same country.

Like our flag, our country requires finishing work; in fact, our finishing work as a country is a continual process. It takes all of us participating in the civic life of our country to keep this cloth together.

The next time you look at the flag, take a look at those different fabrics, and all the seams that bind them together. Take pride in how we can all find our own way to keep this fabric of our country strong.

Jesse White , secretary of state

The American flag means to me a tapestry of sacrifice, opportunity, volunteerism, liberty, privilege, responsibility and appreciation.  

As a former paratrooper in the U.S. Army’s 101st Airborne Division and as a member of the Illinois National Guard and Reserve, I admire and cherish the sacrifice, bravery and heroism that our men and women in the armed forces display each and every day whether at home or in hostile environments. The American flag represents the selfless sacrifice of these true heroes, whether it is hoisted up in a field of battle or unfurled above a baseball field.  

As a Chicago public school teacher and administrator for 33 years, I spent a portion of each morning reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, hand over heart, before the American flag.

On many occasions, I would think of my students, many of whom came from economically disadvantaged neighborhoods and, while looking at the American flag, I would think: Any of these students, so long as they properly apply themselves, can accomplish great things.

Indeed, many of my former students, as well as former members of my Jesse White Tumbling Team, have gone on to become American success stories.  They have become lawyers, engineers, teachers, athletes, firefighters, police officers — the list goes on and on.  

The American flag means to me volunteerism. Americans are blessed with a kind and giving sprit. When we become successful, we find ways to give it back to those less fortunate.  

The American flag means to me liberty, that we are the privileged few that live in a nation that gives each and every one of us the opportunity to strive for greatness in whatever field or endeavor we wish to pursue.  

The American flag means to me the responsibility we bear to ensure that the United States continues to prosper and continues to give hope to those who wish for a better way of life. From all regions of this great nation, we often honor the American flag with a salute and a rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner.” This tradition underscores the powerful and emotional importance of the American flag to us as a nation, undivided.  

Lastly, the American flag means to me a profound appreciation to those departed who helped shape the United States of America — the greatest country in the world — so that it would be, as President Abraham Lincoln famously resolved at Gettysburg,  “... a government of the people, by the people, and for the people.”

Dan Rutherford , state treasurer

“I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

At the start of each school day, my class would stand together, raise our right hands to our hearts and recite the words to the Pledge of Allegiance. As I spoke those words, I remember gazing at the American flag and feeling a sense of pride and responsibility.

For me, those were not just simple words, they were a promise of commitment to this country to be a loyal citizen to the land that has become home to so many people and fulfilled countless dreams.

The American flag has a unique meaning to each and every person.  Not only in the U.S., but all around the world, the American flag symbolizes freedom, pride, honor and responsibility. The red, white and blue represent unity and equality and the opportunity to make dreams reality.  

The American flag symbolizes commitment — a commitment to be of service to the land that has given us one of life’s most precious gifts, freedom. That freedom gives me the chance to be of service to my family and friends, and to the many cities and towns in Illinois as I serve as the state treasurer.

We as citizens contribute, shape, and define our diverse communities, and thus our nation.  Many citizens give great sacrifice to this country, whether it be the elected leaders guiding the nation and protecting the rights of citizens or the classroom teachers educating our next generation, every individual is responsible for contributing something to the community they belong to.  

The flag also reminds me of our armed forces, risking their lives and making daily sacrifices to secure our freedoms and ensure the safety of others. I am humbled by their service to this great nation.

These men and women know firsthand that freedom isn’t free and they are prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice to protect our great nation. Our freedom is only realized with their sacrifice, service and commitment.

As Americans celebrate the Fourth of July, it is important that we take time to reflect on the symbolic stars and stripes and realize that all around the world, the American flag has become a symbol of hope.

As Illinois treasurer, I know in my heart that I have the great responsibility to do my part in carrying on the legacy of patriotism, respect, and progress that our Founding Fathers left behind. I am committed to doing my best for this great nation and the people of Illinois.

I love the United States of America, and I am filled with pride each time I see our American flag.

Melissa Asher

What does the flag mean to me? Boy, does that statement bring back a memory.

I am a single mother of three children. When my eldest son was 17, he said to me. “Mom, I want to join the military.” I said “No, son, it’s a time of war. There are so many things that you can do. You cannot join the Army or the Marines.”

I was afraid, you see, that if I sent my son, who meant so much to me, that he wouldn’t come home. So many lives lost, so many broken hearts and sadness came with such things. I just didn’t want it to be him, or me.

For a year we argued, “You can do this, you can do that. There are so many other things that you can be.” There was no peace, there were no happy thoughts. We just disagreed.

Then one night, my son held a paper in his hands. an essay he had written for school. He said, “I have to turn this in tomorrow. I would like you to read it, and then tell me what you think.”

It was titled, “How does the flag influence the teen of today?” (Or something close to that.) So I read this essay.

It talked about how young Americans don’t salute the flag as it goes by, how they don’t respect the men that have died. He talked about the colors, the stripes and the stars, and what they meant. He talked about the men that fought our wars so valiantly. He said so many things and with each word I read, a power – a knowledge — came over me.

My son did not want to go into the military for war mongering. He didn’t want to go and fight for something he knew not. You see, he wanted to join because it was his right. He wanted to join to protect his right of freedom, his right of speech, the knowledge that nowhere else has freedoms such as we.

He thought it was wrong to force people to live as others wanted them to. He wanted to make the world see that the freedoms we have can be shared. He wants a world democracy, where every person on earth should have the freedom to choose what they want to do, where they want to be, how they want to live.

He wanted to speak loud and clear that he wanted to oppress the tyranny, the evilness of the lands, that fought to keep people enslaved in their worlds without rights, without freedoms, that we as Americans take advantage of every day.

I stopped and thought about the men in my family, as far back as I could go, who fought for their military. From Germany, to Ireland, from England to America. They fought for the right to have a better life.

They came here for a better life. And when I look at the flag. I do not just see red, white and blue. I see the blood of my forefathers, I see the white flag of hope, I see the love and strength that gave them voice. I see the courage they had to fight and yet love deeply.

I see the farmers, the bankers, the store owners, the young, the old. I see America. The land of the free, the home of the brave. I see my son, wearing his army greens. His army blues, saluting as the glorious flag of our nation goes by. I see the pride in his eyes, and the courage and bravery that makes him stand tall.

I am not afraid anymore. If the time ever comes, I know in my heart that my son will always come home. I know that I will never lose him. For he fights for this land, this country he loves. And as long as we remember him, he will always be a soldier, my son.

Melissa Beckler , teacher

As a young child, I was schooled in flag etiquette. I was taught how to hang the flag correctly, fold and store it correctly, and never, ever let it touch the ground.

If the flag was out at night, it must be lighted. If the flag was damaged beyond repair, it must be burned. Not burned with anger and disdain as some have done; but burned in a dignified manner.

On the Fourth of July, Veterans Day, and Memorial Day, one of my brothers or I had to get up early and go with our dad to the little village cemetery. He held the map of veterans’ graves, while I carried the little flags and placed them by the headstones.

Dad knew many of the veterans and shared stories. He shared a last name with some vets; those stories were more difficult for him to tell. Before we left, we stopped to look at the tiny flags blowing in the breeze. It was both beautiful and heartrending.

The flag that hung on our porch had just 48 stars. It had no stains or tears and it was cherished by my father. He also had a flag on his casket because he was a veteran of World War II. I held that flag for days and nights after his death.

That beautiful flag that could bring tears to my dad’s eyes holds a great deal of meaning to me. We are blessed to live in this country; however, it seems to me that many, many people are forgetting the sacrifice of those who fought in order for that flag to fly in the breeze.

For instance, Goshen College in Indiana has decided not to play the national anthem at school events. “The Star-Spangled Banner” is considered too violent. I wonder if they’d prefer to fly the Union Jack? Because without the Revolutionary War, the Stars and Stripes wouldn’t exist.

In addition, many neighborhood associations across the country have banned the flying of the American flag. Our flag stands for liberty, but some citizens don’t have the freedom to fly that flag?

There have been lawsuits brought against people who just want to express their love and respect for this country. That, to me, is incredulous.

I feel like the lesson my dad wanted me to learn from my “flag tutelage” is to always be grateful for the gift of liberty for which so many fought. I didn’t do anything to earn that gift; it was given to me by men and women who knew its worth.

Those stars and stripes have covered many caskets of men and women who felt compelled to ensure our rights and freedoms. When we love and respect that flag, we are respecting those who died for our liberty. May it ever wave in our yards, schools, government buildings and hearts.

Mike Jennings , police officer

The American flag has many meanings to many people. There is of course the symbolic meaning in the colors and what virtues they represent and the honor and care in which the flag should be displayed and cared for.

Unfortunately, all too often those standards are not met and we begin to see abuses and misuse of the flag. To some, any use of the flag they see fit is fine. I guess what I am trying to say is the flag and its meaning is subject to each person’s perspective and I guess that is ideally what it should be.

I would hope that you would consider my perspective as a police officer and a veteran. The flag belongs to and represents the people and the principles of this great country.

It is often used by our government to represent its agenda and actions throughout the world, and in recent years it has been used to rally support by wrapping it around the hidden agendas of special interests and influences that control our elected officials and their failed policies.

Fortunately, there are those who still believe in the principles of that flag and are willing to sacrifice all for those principles. They are called soldiers, sailors and airmen of our military and they are truly the best we have amongst us, the most noble profession. They rally to the call for service and place themselves in harm’s way for you and me so that we can be safe to enjoy the freedom they provide.

In the future, when someone decides to abuse or destroy a flag in protest, stop and consider that the flag is yours and it has been paid for by your brothers and sisters in arms. And ask yourself what that flag means to the family of the fallen soldier as they return home wrapped in the very flag they defend.

Take the time to seek out the images of our military cemeteries on  Memorial Day and the endless rows of waving flags placed there by their  fellow soldiers in honor and remembrance of the price they paid. But most of all, recognize that the flag belongs to us and not our government, and that it is a receipt for the price we have paid for the freedoms we enjoy and have provided to others all around this world.

It is our eternal duty to ensure that the flag is not abused or misused. We owe that to those who have sacrificed life, limb and sanity in paying for its cost. So consider those ideas when you feel the flag is a target of your anger.

J. Michael Houston , mayor of Springfield

My favorite thought of an American flag blowing in the breeze is standing atop the Abraham Lincoln Tomb as the Abraham Lincoln Council of the Boy Scouts of America holds its annual pilgrimage.

While the crowds are smaller today, in years past there would be more than 10,000 Boy Scouts standing in front of the tomb, with each troop that was represented holding an American flag. The flag bearers were grouped together in front of the Boy Scouts, which made a magnificent site as hundreds of American flags were blowing in the breeze.

I would stand there in awe as I would think of all the people who have made the ultimate sacrifice since our country’s founding that allows us to enjoy the freedoms we have today. We owe so much to so many for the sacrifices that have been made. It makes me proud to be an American.  

Our flag represents our principles, ideas and values as well as all the good things about our country. It reminds me of how blessed I am to have been born an American. That is what the flag represents to me.

The American flag stands for liberty and pride in our country, a country that gives me the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. A country that has allowed me to do anything I was willing to prepare myself to do and was willing to work to accomplish. It means that I am free to make my own choices.

Americans frequently forget how lucky we really are, the opportunities that we have, and the freedoms that we take for granted. The American flag is a reminder of all the privileges that we enjoy on a daily basis.

Our flag stands tall above buildings and spires and reminds us that more than 200 years ago, our forefathers established a nation based upon the freedom to choose our own destiny.

The flag is that symbol, one that allows us to better appreciate all of our freedoms and all of our opportunities that have allowed this country to remain strong.

Neil Williamson , Sangamon County sheriff

My early memory of the flag is when I was around 12 years old and I would intently watch my father proudly display our flag on a country dirt road in Williamsville.

My brothers and I would follow his footsteps and ask in unison if we could help. We loved watching the flag whip in the gusting wind over the fields and giggled when we heard the “pop” the fabric made when it flapped onto itself.  

Dad served in World War II and said the flag represented patriotism. That was a big word to a little boy. He told us “patriotism” meant devotion to country. He broke it down to our level by saying it meant the duty to take care of your family and protect your neighbors.

Mom pointed out the flag many times at the front of the church and told us it represented even more than patriotism; it meant we were free —  free to express ourselves through speech and the freedom of religious worship.

Recently when I went back to the small country church in Williamsville to worship, I saw the flag by the podium and the yellow ribbons tied to the prayer railing for the young men and women serving in the armed forces to protect our freedoms. I thought of momma and her gentle teachings about life and smiled.

Throughout my life, I’ve tried to walk a path in law enforcement to protect and serve. I credit the career decisions I’ve made in large part to the words of my parents and their actions and deeds.

In school we learned to stand tall and place our hand over our heart to say the Pledge of Allegiance, and we learned about our country’s history. We learned that our freedom did not come without a price, and for many that price was their lives.  

With this being an election year, there will be a lot of talk and speeches about what liberty, freedom and sacrifice mean to people. Through all the buzz and promises made during the election cycle, we will need to exercise our right to vote and vote for the best person to defend our freedom and liberty.

God bless America!

Susan Koch , UIS chancellor

What does the flag mean to me? Any other year but this year I might have answered this question by discussing, as a university’s chancellor probably should, that important purpose of a university education —  the preparation of citizens in a country that needs citizenship.  

But this year when I think about what the flag means to me all I can think about is a woman I know who, like me, is a mother of four.  

We were once neighbors on 19th Street near the university in Cedar Falls, Iowa. My youngest daughter, Rachel, was the Morris family baby sitter for several years. She often brought the children, Molly, Taylor, Riley and toddler Clare, to play at our house.

I always thought the kids looked like little ducklings following along in single file behind her and I was grateful to their mother, Juli, for the positive role model she provided for my rambunctious daughter.

After the kids outgrew the need for baby-sitting, we saw the Morris kids and their parents less often; but we stayed in touch, crossing paths at community events and basketball games and following news of our kids’ high school exploits in the paper.  

I still smile when I think of Juli’s much-anticipated holiday letters — they arrived in a bulging envelope each December — pages of photos and stories catching us up with great enthusiasm on the latest adventures of each member of the family.

Juli is too busy now to know this, but we are in touch once again and I am thinking about her every day.  She is at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and Taylor’s girlfriend, Danielle, is sharing with her the writing of daily updates about Taylor on his Caring Bridge web page.

On May 3, Taylor, a 23-year-old Navy EOD — explosives ordinance demolition technician — stepped on a bomb in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, while on patrol. He lost his right leg at the knee, his left leg at mid-thigh, his right arm at the wrist and his left arm at the elbow.

Taylor is one of five members of the American military thus far who have survived the loss of four limbs in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Now like many others I look forward anxiously to a post every day with news from Juli or Danielle about Taylor. Surrounded by his family, his Navy friends and a team of dedicated medical specialists, he is making amazing progress. I am in awe at his courage and determination.

A few weeks ago on Mother’s Day, Juli posted this message: “Today is Mother’s Day and I am blessed. I am blessed because my children are safe.”  

So on this Fourth of July when I think about what the flag means to me, I’ll think about my former neighbor, Taylor’s mom. I’ll be grateful for the service of men and women like Taylor and for the sacrifices of their families.

I’ll send lots of positive energy Taylor’s way as Juli has requested and I’ll, too, be grateful that Juli’s son is safe.

You can read more about Taylor Morris at CaringBridge.org/visit/TaylorMorris .

Judy Baar Topinka, Illinois comptroller

I was taught that the American flag stands for everything great about America. I learned at an early age that the flag stands for the ideals of our nation — things like independence, justice, equality, and most of all, individual freedom.

But more important than the things I’ve learned in a classroom or read in a book is what I have witnessed and experienced over time. For me, the flag is personal.

When I look at the flag I think about the wonderful opportunity that this country provided to all four of my grandparents. They arrived from Eastern Europe and worked to start a small business, own a home and raise a family. Some may mock the “American Dream” as some cliché — but I saw it in action and am forever grateful.

I think about the generations of Americans who have served in our military under the auspices of that flag. I am in awe of their courage and selflessness, and mindful of what it has meant for our nation. My appreciation of that work is also personal as my son, Joseph, serves today under that flag in the U.S. Army — and I couldn’t be prouder.

Finally, I think about how the flag, and what it represents, must never be taken for granted. It is all too easy to pass dozens of flags — on buildings, in hallways, on uniforms — in a given day without giving it a second thought. I make it a point to not let that happen, and proudly hang the flag in front of my home, in my office and on my car to serve as a reminder.

Because ultimately, the flag provides a way for each and every one of us — no matter who we are or what we do — to honor our nation and show appreciation for our nation. It is important to take advantage of that opportunity at every turn, and never forget what it means to be an American.

Stan Zielinski

Old Glory, our beloved American flag … I pledge my allegiance to the flag; I honor it and respect what the flag stands for, and I believe in what it means to me: The American flag represents the true meaning of freedom for all Americans.

The earliest memories of the flag in my young life most likely occurred when I was with my mother who took me shopping with her. As we walked through our neighborhood with me scampering alongside, we’d walk past the local grade school on our way to shop at the bakery, grocery store or market.

Stationed atop a tall pole in the yard of the school was the American flag fluttering in the breeze, and on top was a gold eagle shining in the morning sun. Most likely my natural curiosity about the colorful flag encouraged me to ask my mother what it was, but I’m unable to clearly remember her explanation.

The flag became a part of my life when I entered kindergarten and I learned to say the Pledge of Allegiance with my right hand placed over my heart, along with our daily prayers. Of course I didn’t understand the meaning behind the words I spoke, but I knew they were important because the nun and we students said them every morning before the start of class.

It wasn’t until a couple of years later when I became a Cub Scout (with a flag patch on my sleeve) that I learned the history of the American flag. As a Scout, I was taught to always show respect to the flag by saluting it in the proper Scout fashion with my arm and hand straight with two fingers touching my cap.

As I became a teenager and moved up through high school and the Scouts, I followed the activities of the American military during foreign wars and conflicts and how the troops always carried the flag with them.

Like most kids my age I was awestruck by our military and the stories we heard and the war movies we saw at the local theater that featured actors including our movie hero, John Wayne or Audie Murphy (Medal of Honor, World War II) or some other American hero with the American flag waving in background.

After high school, I entered the Army National Guard, where I learned the proper military protocol and the rituals of facing and saluting in honor of our flag; during the morning raising of the flag to the evening retreat when it was lowered or when I walked past the flag.

Showing respect by saluting the flag helped instill strong, emotional feelings that I still carry to this day. I recall those memories every time I see the flag raised above. I stand at attention and proudly salute the flag for what it represents to me and all Americans: my freedom and privilege to live in America to honor and always pledge my allegiance to our venerated American flag.

Rick Richards

The flag of the United States of America is so intrinsically woven in the fabric of our democracy; one can not speak of country without visualizing our flag.

As a young boy, I looked up at the face of my father and I saw, glittering in the afternoon sun, a tear in his eye while he held his right hand over his heart during the playing of our national anthem. Back then I did not know why he expressed such deep emotion over our flag flying in the breeze, but all I need to know was that my dad respected it.

Today, as a proud grandfather I know beyond a doubt what my father was thinking as he stared at our flag, the symbol of the greatest nation on earth. 

At some past moment in time my dad, Jim, a combat veteran of World War II and I, a disabled combat wounded Vietnam veteran, became as one in our respect and honor of our flag; for we both experienced the sacrifices made by our forefathers to protect our flag so it will always be the symbol of America’s unity and strength as well as a beacon of hope for all the world to see. 

As I reflect on my life and my father’s experiences, I can still recall the pain from my wounds and the heartache in knowing that so many millions throughout the history of our country shed their blood and gave their lives on battlefields around the world to protect our flag and country and ensure freedom to our families.

Our flag as always been revered; during the Civil War nearly one third of the Congressional Medals of Honor earned were awarded to Army and Naval personnel for acts to protect the American flag or for anchoring it in enemy soil during battle.

Whenever I see the flying unfurled colors of our flag, my pride in having served for the principles of a free nation is strengthened, and my thoughts and memories of what our flag represents brings a lump in my throat and a tear in my eye. 

I have also shed tears for the selfish acts of those who desecrate our flag simply to bolster their agenda, but I continue to pray for them and I collect resolve in knowing that our sacrifices were for them to also have the freedom symbolic in our flag. My heart goes out to and I salute those who today protect our flag and country.

My flag: “….long may it wave, over the land of the Free and the Home of the Brave.”

Thomas R. Jones

I am now a 60-year-old black man in America who appreciates honoring the flag for the life and hope it has given me. I fully understand the difference between being an American in America and abroad.

The American flag for me is a history that gives reason for the future. It means, for my children, a life of possibilities. It keeps in our memory the people who gave their all fighting under its banner. When I am dead, it will cover my casket and be given to my family as a memorable treasure.

In grammar school, it was the reason I had to say the Pledge of Allegiance in class. I learned through geography classes there were many countries in the world. I knew I lived in America, because of the flag.

In high school, I learned the history of the flag, known as the Star-Spangled Banner, Old Glory and Stars and Stripes. The flag consists of 13 horizontal stripes, seven red alternating with six white.

The stripes represent the original 13 colonies, the stars represent the 50 states of the Union. The colors of the flag are symbolic as well: Red symbolizes hardiness and valor, white symbolizes purity and innocence and blue represents vigilance, perseverance and justice.

The flag of the United States is one of the world’s most widely recognized symbols and our national anthem, one of the few national anthems in the world devoted to a flag

As I grew older, I became more aware of the flag. It was everywhere — school assemblies, sporting events, whenever there was a show of authority. Holidays like Memorial Day, Veterans Day, Presidents’ Day, Flag Day, and on Independence Day the America flag was displayed on mail boxes, hung on houses, stuck on cars, attached to thin sticks in yards.

On Memorial Day, small flags are placed by war memorials and next to the graves of U.S. war veterans and fly at half staff until noon, in remembrance of those who lost their lives fighting in U.S. wars.  Our country’s military history is a direct link to the American flag beginning with the struggle for independence by the colonies. The flag represents more than a nation or government policies, it also is an ideal.

The flag became personally even more important to me when I joined the Navy. In the military the American flag is the symbol of their existence, simple cloth that people would fight for and many died for.

I took the oath to serve my country under it. Went to war and put my life on the line serving it. I become part of the tradition that keeps it alive.

In the military, the flag lets others know you represent the America people and you are an American.  It meant home and a place of safety. It meant, you’re not alone.

Mike Walton

I have always been patriotic from my days as a youngster when I rode around on my bike with an American flag flying from the handle bars, to today where I fly Old Glory 24 hours a day, seven days a week, proudly in our front yard.

I had always flown a flag from my home, but several years ago my son Nicholas purchased and had a 25-foot flag pole placed in our yard for me. What a great present that was.

My father was a World War II veteran, and he and my mother were both very patriotic and active in the American Legion and American Legion Auxiliary, so I suppose I grew up knowing what the flag stood for, how many brave men and women died and sacrificed for it and how each and every American should respect it.

I served in the military and spent a year in Vietnam and came home to a lot of Americans who were unfortunately burning the flag for whatever reason, which I suppose is their right as an American, just don’t do it around me! 

To this day when I watch our Old Glory wave in the wind, or I stand and pay my respect when a flag goes by in a parade, or when I stand and say the Pledge of Allegiance, I still feel a great sense of pride at being an American, an American Legionnaire and an American veteran.

So, whenever you see the symbol of our country flying proudly, remember those who gave so much so all of us could be free and live in the greatest country in the world, and remember to treat that flag with the great respect it deserves.

Mark Denzler

Several months ago, on a cold but sunny day, I stood at the new gravesite of my Uncle Tom Heidenreich as an honor guard played taps and a young soldier on bended knee, while presenting a folded American flag to my aunt, voiced the immortal words designed to assuage grief and bring comfort to families:

“On behalf of the President of the United States and the Chief of Naval Operations, please accept this flag as a symbol of our appreciation for your loved one’s service to this country and a grateful nation.” 

But what does the American flag mean?  What does it stand for?  When the Continental Congress authorized creation of a seal for the United States in 1776, its mission was to “reflect the beliefs, values, and sovereignty of the new nation.”

The 50 stars, symbolizing the states, represent the heavens and the divine goal to which man has aspired from time immemorial; the stripes, symbolic of the rays of light emanating from the sun represent the 13 original colonies, and the colors red (hardiness and valor), white (purity and innocence), and blue (vigilance, perseverance, and justice) comprise Old Glory today.

The beauty of the iconic Old Glory is that while it represents freedom and American democratic ideals, the real meaning is in the eye of the beholder.

For millions of new immigrants who arrived at Ellis Island, the American flag represented a beacon of hope for a new life, a scenario that continues to play out every day as people chase their hopes and dreams.  When lowered to half-mast, the American flag announces that we have lost a hero who served our country, protecting the very freedom epitomized in the colors of our nation.  Young school children address the flag every day when they say the Pledge of Allegiance to the greatest country on earth.

The American flag, in my mind, is a constant reminder of the sacrifices that hundreds of thousands of Americans have made to protect our democracy and freedoms.

I have the wonderful opportunity to work every day in the state Capitol, and briefly toiled as a young staffer in the halls of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., and I love the fact that people have the right to express their views and opinions without fearing repercussions that may include jail or even death in other areas of the world.  

Our flag represents the charity, idealism, ingenuity, heritage, and freedom of a country and its people that continue to serve as an inspiration for millions of people around the world.

Ramona Bersch

The flag is a proud and beloved symbol of all that America stands for, which was originally handed down to all Americans from the colonial period, to be honored and respected for all American generations to come from that time forward.

It would fly wherever America would be represented over land and sea during war and peace, with dignity, for all it would endure when and wherever it would appear.

It instills an enduring feeling of liberty and justice whenever displayed, or when the words are spoken: “I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, with liberty and justice for all.”

Libby Larkin-Booker

Every time I see the flag I get chills knowing what our ancestors went through beginning these United States, times of war, the depression, etc. 

I also get a “blast” from the past. My grade school principal, Don Bone in Bethany was the most patriotic individual I have ever known.  He taught us not only to respect the flag, but to respect those who fought for us under that flag and each other.  We even had yearly assemblies in the boiler room to properly dispose of the American flag.

When I see a flag flying that is torn and tattered, it makes me sad thinking that possibly those individuals or businesses just don’t care. If you have a torn and/or tattered flag, please take it to your American Legion and they will see to it that it is disposed of in a proper manner. 

• History & Society
• Science & Tech
• Biographies
• Animals & Nature
• Geography & Travel
• Arts & Culture
• Games & Quizzes
• On This Day
• One Good Fact
• New Articles
• Lifestyles & Social Issues
• Philosophy & Religion
• Politics, Law & Government
• World History
• Health & Medicine
• Browse Biographies
• Birds, Reptiles & Other Vertebrates
• Bugs, Mollusks & Other Invertebrates
• Environment
• Fossils & Geologic Time
• Entertainment & Pop Culture
• Sports & Recreation
• Visual Arts
• Demystified
• Image Galleries
• Infographics
• Top Questions
• Britannica Kids
• Saving Earth
• Space Next 50
• Student Center

flag of the United States of America

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

• Public Braodcasting Service - A Capital Fourth - The History of the American Flag
• HistoryNet - Stars and Stripes and Strife
• United States District Court - District of Puerto Rico - The Flag of The United States of America
• Smithsonian - Facts about the United States Flag
• Drexel University - Online Education - History of the American Flag & American Flag Facts
• Library of Congress - Star Spangled Banner
• American Battlefield Trust - Short History of The Star Spangled Banner
• CRW Flags - Flag of United States of America
• The Flag Institute - Flag of the U.S.A.
• Military.com - U.S. Flag Code
• Humanities LibreTexts - United States of America- “The Star-Spangled Banner”

Recent News

After the American Revolution began, the first, unofficial national flag—known as the Continental Colours (or, sometimes, as the Grand Union Flag, the Cambridge Flag, the Somerville Flag, or the Union Flag)—was hoisted on a towering 76-foot (23-metre) liberty pole at Prospect Hill in Charlestown (now in Somerville ), Massachusetts, on January 1, 1776; it was raised at the behest of Gen. George Washington , whose headquarters were nearby. The flag had 13 horizontal stripes (probably of red and white or of red, white, and blue) and, in the canton, the first version of the British Union Flag ( Union Jack ). As the flag of the Continental Army, it flew at forts and on naval vessels. Another popular early flag, that of the 1765 Sons of Liberty, had only nine red and white stripes. Various versions of “Don’t Tread on Me” coiled-rattlesnake flags appeared on many 18th-century American colonial banners, including the Gadsden flag and several others flown by military units during the Revolutionary War. The version carried by the Minutemen of Culpeper County, Virginia, for example, included not only the rattlesnake and the “Don’t Tread on Me” motto but also Virginia patriot Patrick Henry ’s famous words “Liberty or Death.”

The first official national flag, formally approved by the Continental Congress on June 14, 1777, was the Stars and Stripes. That first Flag Resolution read, in toto, “Resolved, that the flag of the United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field representing a new constellation.” The layout of the stars was left undefined, and many patterns were used by flag makers. The designer of the flag—most likely Congressman Francis Hopkinson, a signer of the Declaration of Independence from Philadelphia—may have had a ring of stars in mind to symbolize the new constellation. Today that pattern is popularly known as the “ Betsy Ross flag ,” although the widely circulated story that she made the first Stars and Stripes and came up with the ring pattern is unsubstantiated. Rows of stars (4-5-4 or 3-2-3-2-3) were common, but many other variations also existed. The new Stars and Stripes formed part of the military colours carried on September 11, 1777, at the Battle of the Brandywine , perhaps its first such use.

The Stars and Stripes changed on May 1, 1795, when Congress enacted the second Flag Resolution, which mandated that new stars and stripes be added to the flag when new states were admitted to the Union. The first two new states were Vermont (1791) and Kentucky (1792). (One such flag was the 1,260-square-foot [117-square-metre] “Star-Spangled Banner,” made by Mary Pickersgill, that Francis Scott Key saw at Fort McHenry in September 1814, which inspired him to write the patriotic poem that later supplied the lyrics of the national anthem .) In 1818, after five more states had been admitted, Congress enacted the third and last Flag Resolution, requiring that henceforth the number of stripes should remain 13, the number of stars should always match the number of states, and any new star should be added on the July 4 following a state’s admission. This has been the system ever since. In all, from 1777 to 1960 (after the admission of Hawaii in 1959), there were 27 versions of the flag—25 involving changes in the stars only. An executive order signed by Pres. William Howard Taft on October 29, 1912, standardized for the first time the proportions and relative sizes of the elements of the flag; in 1934 the exact shades of colour were standardized.

There is no official assignment of meaning or symbolism to the colours of the flag. However, Charles Thomson , secretary of the Continental Congress, in describing the proposed Great Seal of the United States, suggested the following symbolism: “White signifies purity and innocence, Red, hardiness & valour, and Blue…signifies vigilence [sic], perseverence [sic] & justice.” As with many other national flags, the Stars and Stripes has long been a focus of patriotic sentiment. Since 1892, millions of children have recited the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag at the start of each school day, and the lyrics of the national anthem are also concerned with the flag. After the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 1989 that all flag desecration laws were unconstitutional, some veterans’ and patriotic groups pressured legislators to adopt laws or a constitutional amendment prohibiting flag desecration. Such legislation has been opposed on the grounds that it would infringe on the constitutionally guaranteed First Amendment freedom of expression.

During the American Civil War, the Confederate States of America began to use its first flag, the Stars and Bars, on March 5, 1861. Soon after, the first Confederate Battle Flag was also flown. The design of the Stars and Bars varied over the following two years. On May 1, 1863, the Confederacy adopted its first official national flag, often called the Stainless Banner . A modification of that design was adopted on March 4, 1865, about a month before the end of the war. In the latter part of the 20th century, many groups in the South challenged the practice of flying the Confederate Battle Flag on public buildings, including some state capitols. Proponents of the tradition argued that the flag recalled Southern heritage and wartime sacrifice, whereas opponents saw it as a symbol of racism and slavery, inappropriate for official display.

Home / Essay Samples / Government / American Flag / What the American Flag Means to Me: A Personal Reflection

What the American Flag Means to Me: A Personal Reflection

• Category: Government
• Topic: American Flag

Pages: 1 (454 words)

• Downloads: -->

--> ⚠️ Remember: This essay was written and uploaded by an--> click here.

Found a great essay sample but want a unique one?

are ready to help you with your essay

You won’t be charged yet!

Foreign Policy Essays

Federalism Essays

Veterans Essays

Ruby Bridges Essays

Totalitarianism Essays

Related Essays

We are glad that you like it, but you cannot copy from our website. Just insert your email and this sample will be sent to you.

By clicking “Send”, you agree to our Terms of service  and  Privacy statement . We will occasionally send you account related emails.

Your essay sample has been sent.

In fact, there is a way to get an original essay! Turn to our writers and order a plagiarism-free paper.

samplius.com uses cookies to offer you the best service possible.By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .--> -->