The American Flag (953)

Many people around the world know the American flag. It has three names: Old Glory, Stars and Stripes and the Star-Spangled Banner. The third name is also the name of the American national song.

The first national flag was adopted in 1777; it had thirteen stars and thirteen stripes for the thirteen colonies. When more states joined the Union, the Congress decided to change the flag. Now there are fifty white five-pointed stars (one for each state) and thirteen horizontal stripes (seven red and six white). The red stripes proclaim courage, the white – liberty, and the field of blue stands for loyalty.

People put up flags on special holidays. Government office buildings put up a flag every morning and take it down every evening. Students say the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag in many schools. This is the pledge: 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. This pledge says you are loyal to the U.S. and the states are united as one nation with liberty and justice for ever.

The flag's day is observed on June, 14.