Flag Day 2024

Today is Flag Day, a day for commemorating the adoption of a design by Francis Hopkinson as the official Flag of the United States on this date in 1777. President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation in 1919 declaring June 14 as the official day.

Francis Hopkinson Flag, 1777

Here are some words about the Hopkinson flag from the link above:

Hopkinson is recognized as the designer of the official "first flag" of the United States. Although he sought compensation from Congress, the letter was somewhat comical. He asked for a quarter cask of wine in payment for the flag, the Great Seal, and various other contributions. Congress used the usual bureaucratic tactics of asking for an itemized bill. After some back and forth, Congress eventually refused on the pretext that Hopkinson was already paid as a public servant. The letter also mentioned that Hopkinson collaborated with others on his designs because he was one of many contributing to the Great Seal.

While there is no known Hopkinson flag in existence today, we do know from his rough sketch that it had thirteen stars and thirteen stripes. It is believed that his flag used red and white stripes and white stars on a field of blue. Because the original stars used in the Great Seal had six points, we might also assume that Hopkinson's flag intended the use of a 6-pointed star. This is bolstered by his original sketch that showed asterisks with six points.

The legend of Betsy Ross as the designer of the first flag entered into American consciousness about the time of the 1876 centennial celebrations. See Betsy Ross Flag for the full story. Today many Americans still cling to the legend that she designed the first flag with it's familiar circle of thirteen stars, At the same time most are unaware of Hopkinson's legacy.

There are any number of songs written about our national flag. Among the best of them is George M. Cohan's 1906 rouser, You're A Grand Old Rag, written in 1906 for his musical, George Washington, Jr. Here it is performed by Billy Murray, the best selling recording artist of the earthy 20th century.

That's right, you read and heard "rag" instead of "flag". Cohen wrote the song inspired by a Civil War veteran clutching a tattered US flag he referred to as a grand old rag. Although the song was an immediate success many individuals and patriotic groups were uncomfortable with "rag" referring to such a sacred symbol. Eager to please his audience, Cohan soon published a revision with new words and a new title, You're A Grand Old Flag. 

Sources

Photos and Illustrations:
Hopkinson Flag, public domain image, Wikimedia.org

Text:
Francis Hopkinson, entry, Wikipedia.org
"You're A Grand Old Flag," entry, Wikipedia.org