Why is the American flag red white and blue

The American Flag is an eternal symbol of hope and freedom for many, and it is perhaps one of the most recognized symbols of the free world. However, many people don’t realize there are several hidden meanings which are displayed by the colors, the stripes, and the stars which make up the American Flag.

Once the United States declared their freedom from Britain on July 4th, 1776, the Continental Congress passed a bill which authorized a small committee to begin work on the seal of the United States of America. This committee didn’t come into effect until June 20th, 1782. However, once the committee became active, they assigned meaning to the American flag which had had none since it had been adopted in 1777. A pamphlet was published and circulated, which explained the meaning of the colors to the American people. The white stripes were said to signify the purity and innocence of the American people, while the red stripes were to represent their hardiness and valor displayed both on the battlefield and off. The blue field which the stars rested on was said to represent vigilance, perseverance, and justice.

However, not just the colors of the flag have meaning. The shapes which make up the flag also have meaning, aside from what most people know. Many know that the 50 stars on the flag actually represent the 50 states of the union, but what many don’t realize is that the star was chosen very specifically to represent the states. In 1777, the House of Representatives published a small book about the flag, which stated, “The star is a symbol of the heavens and the divine goal to which man has aspired from time immemorial.” This explains why each state would be represented on the flag with a star. The stripes, while there are thirteen of them to represent the original thirteen colonies which gained their independence from Britain, also hold specific meaning, just as the stars. They are said to be the rays of light emanating from the sun. All official government produced flags which adorn government buildings’ interior also contain a gold fringe which encircles the edges of the flag. Many have speculated that since the stars, stripes, and the color of the flag have specific meaning, that this golden fringe which adorns interior flags must have meaning as well. The fringe was first believed to have been used in a military setting, and now has become standard for all government sanctioned buildings. However, there is no documentation relating to the fringe of the flag that states anything other than it being attached as pure decoration.

The hidden meaning behind the colors and shapes of the flag has not been mainstream, but it should be noted that each and every detail of the American flag has specific meaning and has had that meaning for more than two centuries. It is often forgotten that the flag can be broken down in such a manner, as many Americans look at is as a whole, not considering what each piece could mean.