06/13/2026
🇺🇸 Old Glory, What Do You Think You Know?🇺🇸
Officially, the United States has had 27 versions of its flag since the first Flag Resolution in 1777. Some will argue, there were actually 28, if you count the unofficial 1775 Grand Union Flag—the one used by George Washington that still featured the British Union Jack in the corner.
And what about Betsy Ross? The famous story that she designed the first flag may be more legend than fact. The tale wasn't made public until 1870, nearly a century after the Revolution, when her grandson shared the family story.
Surprising twists in the evolution of America's flag:
1️⃣ The 15-Stripe Experiment In 1795, Congress added two stars and two stripes for Vermont and Kentucky. Before long, they realized the flag would become a striped mess as new states joined, so in 1818 they returned to the original 13 stripes to honor the founding colonies.
2️⃣ Anything Goes! For more than 100 years, there was no official rule for arranging the stars. Flag makers got creative with circles, diamonds, stars-within-stars, and other unique patterns. It wasn't until 1912 that President Taft standardized the design.
3️⃣ The B-Minus That Made History The current 50-star flag was designed by 17-year-old Robert Heft as a high school class project. His teacher gave him a B-minus, but promised to raise the grade if his design was chosen. Out of more than 3,000 submissions, President Eisenhower selected Heft's design, and the student got the A he earned!
⭐ One flag. ⭐ Twenty-seven official versions. ⭐ Nearly 250 years of American history. (We are getting close!!)
This June 14, as we celebrate Flag Day, take a moment to appreciate the remarkable story behind Old Glory, and the ideals of freedom, unity, and perseverance it continues to represent.
🇺🇸 Happy Flag Day! 🇺🇸