I am a trained mezzo soprano. I can sing, for any occasion, 3 verses of "The Star Spangled Banner". The fact that I am a Navy veteran means that various veteran organizations have asked me to sing that selection, which I always do, and gladly. Pay optional. The joy of singing our National Anthem always brings me such a thrill.
thank you for being a veteran of the female gender. i am not a veteran even thought i might have be an indirect relationship. by supporting the information technology side of the house on a government pricing system . there was a concern on the purchase order system that was going to require investigation. i was questioned and coached by a flying flunkey monkey vice president mr stuckey. he was coaching me to say nothing about anything that i might know. and i think i told the top banana that if i was called to testify that i would tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help me god and i did not need a bible to put one hand on and raise my right arm and swear to god. there is no problem telling the truth. i was brought up that way and to tell a lie brings the problem what lie to who you told. if you tell the wrong lie to the wrong person you get wrapped around an axel that you can not unwrap. now you get a false reality of truth. back to the singer and our national anthem. if i tried to sing the national. a suttle joke including a mexican named joe. "jose can you see" i doubt that i would get paid an honorarium, i would have to pay a dishonorarium but try to collect when but went asked to pay for something i did not want. i use the elvis presley song and say return to sender. and when i find that i am wrong i admit my error and eat proverbial crow. and i lou grant fashion. mary i hate eating crow because it does not taste like chicken, no may no how. back to the opera singer. she sings because it is the right thing to do, honorarium ot
@@russcrawford3310, that phrase is from the first verse. In older versions there were four verses, but the one verse that is not now sung has, shall we say, really, really obscure language. Our National Anthem is understandable and has great flow with the three verses.
The flag has been part of the US Army's uniform for quite some time, but the War on Terror brought about a significant change to its wear. Since June 14, 2004 (IIRC), the flag has been a permanent part of the combat uniform. Previously, it was sewn on roughly 30 days prior to deployment and removed roughly 30 days after returning home. Hence, the Battle Dress Uniform (BDU), be it Woodland or Desert pattern, saw the flag sewn on the right shoulder and below the Shoulder Sleeve Insignia - Former Wartime Service (combat patch) if the latter had been earned. This was considered by some to be disrespectful to the flag, but it made sense as the combat patch was a permanent part of the uniform. When we adopted the Army Combat Uniform (ACU) in Universal Camouflage Pattern (UCP)--aka the world's absolute best uniform that made us invisible to any threat--the regulation was changed to place the flag above the combat patch, both being attached via hook and loop (Velcro). Out of 21 years in uniform, I wore the flag from about January 2003 to March 2004, then from June 2004 through my retirement. A full color flag was worn throughout most of that time, with subdued version worn in Afghansitan nine years ago. I took pride knowing that I represented one of the best nations ever founded, and being part of one of the best armies in history. We have our problems, especially in the 2020s, but we also continue to stand as a monument to our history and our Founding Fathers' ideals. Things are going to get worse before they get better, though I'll leave my personal politics out of this comments sections. I think that a career in Combat Arms and future potential in law enforcement speaks enough about my views.
@@jonathanperry8331 isn't it because if you were to charge into battle with a flag, that would be the direction the flag would fly? That's what I was told and would love to know if there's a more "professional" answer lol
@@jonathanperry8331 I hate that people would say the flag patch is backwards. If the wind is blowing from the right to the left, that is exactly how the flag would look.
This touched on the original purpose of a flag during a war. Flags were to designate "rally points" so that the unit would know where they should be in battle. We still have flags that denote units, but with the advent of the radio and other forms of communication, it has diminished. Striking the colors, ie lowering the flag, might denote surrender. That is why the flag bearer was so important. At sea, a ship that was surrendering would lower its flag.
Naval vessels (I'm thinking Royal Navy, but others likely the same) fly multiple battle flags, just in case one or two are shot away. You don't want the enemy thinking you've surrendered when you haven't.
While visiting the Smithsonian Institute a couple decades ago the Star Spangled Banner was in the process of being restored and it could be viewed through a glass window spread across a large table. The hairs stood up on the back of my neck and a chill shuddered through my body upon seeing it. It has gone through some hard times but it will go through better times ahead.
When I was last there, about 1966 or so, she was on a wall, covered with a glass sheet. (Most likely Plexiglas.) She showed all her battle scars. steve
@@steveskouson9620 I first saw it the same as you but probably closer to the 50’s. Although gigantic I noticed that it was too tall to fit in that case so the bottom of the flag had several folds...I was just a kid back then.
THG: "On this date in history Francis Scott Key penned a poem which became our national anthem and has been butchered by more people than any other in the last 200 years!" 😅
I am flying a 15 star and stripe flag today. I can't stand some of the ways the anthem has been sung, but go to some college football game where the band has a great presentation.
@@Sam2sham I had Buffalo Bills' season tickets for 22 years, and I heard many renditions of the anthem. One time in the mid-90s, it was one of the popular boy bands, I don't remember which one; they did a good job. The worst was Broadway actor Colm Wilkinson. Stretched out a song that goes 1:25 to 1:30 into almost 2 minutes. Everyone who sings it should be told; it's the National Anthem, not a career move.
@@tygrkhat4087 couldn't agree more! I hate when they try to turn it into an audition. Sing it the way it was meant to be sung, in honor of the nation, or don't sing it.
This was fascinating. I have seen a lot of the starfield patterns, but I had never heard of, nor seen, the “Luminary” star-shaped pattern. That was a new one on me!
If I remember Defenders Day (today) was the first national holiday for the US federal government. Still a holiday in Baltimore unless changed in the last 8 years. I participated in Defenders Day celebrations there for about a decade before the Bicentennial of 1814. This includes hoisting the large banner during the fireworks illumination, and doing evening colors the next afternoon. We typically started with a visit to Mary Pinkersgill's "Flag House" where the fort banner was sewn....followed by a schooner crossing to Fort Street for a military dress parade to the fort. I miss those days.
I was a leader of my son's cub scout den and one thing we covered was information about the US Flag. We covered many of the different styles etc but with me being a space nerd I asked the den where is the furthest US flag from us right now. Some kids were thinking about the furthest US state from us. Another kid thought there is US flags in other countries like where US military were stationed. I hinted think way further, like in space. One kid then remembered the flags planted on the moon. I said even further. They thought maybe Mars. I said way further. Voyager 1 is the furthest US flag from us right now and for the foreseeable future. 14.6 billion miles and is outside the solar system. Launched in 1977 and is still transmitting back to us probably until the kids graduate high school. It is almost 1 light day away (21 hrs 51 min)
Thank you, THG. This was extremely interesting and I learned a lot about a subject that I've always loved - the American flag. Thanks, as always, for your hard work. It's wild to me that my grandparents were born under a flag quite different to the one I have always known. My parents, too, of course, but the flag from 1896 is quite different to today's.
Thanks, I really enjoyed this one.. I am kind of a flag collector and have a number of historic and vintage flags. As I am getting older, I have decided reduce my collection and have began donating the vintage ones to museums.
Excellent video sir! I learned a lot, as always. I was surprised to learn that our nation indeed had a 49-star flag for a time. For some reason, I had always assumed that, since Alaska and Hawaii both joined the union in 1959, that the flag went from 48 stars straight to 50. I guess I assumed that both those states joined the union at exactly the same time. Nice to know the full details!
I had always heard that General Washington's "Identification" flag, flown outside his office wherever he was, was a blue square with 13 white stars in a circle. The "Betsy Ross" flag, then, was simply a combination of the 2nd "Sons of Liberty" Flag of 13 horizontal red & white stripes with General Washington's flag in the upper-left corner.
Ha ha ha... when you started scrolling all of the different flags, my TV started freaking out as it couldn't handle the red and white stripes. Great video HG!
It amuses me when I hear people from other countries who question or even mock U.S. citizens for how much we revere and/or display our flag. Although I do refrain from pointing this out for diplomatic reasons, whenever I do encounter this outside sentiment towards 'Old Glory,' my thoughts are, "It's because we have a flag and country that we are exceptionally proud of."
@@skyden24195 and God bless you Americans for being so proud of your nation. Despite our early historical enmity and modern mickey taking, I for one hold you yanks as dear friends. Respect for the UK!
Good morning to everyone watching from Ft Worth TX....I have seen the flag that flew over Ft McHenry that fateful night at the Smithsonian Museum of American History..
Thank-you for a brief history of the Star-Spangled Banner. It is quite the sight to see in person. Here in Baltimore we understand that designing the new flag was given by Congress to the Navel commission headed by Francis Hopkinson. This is most probably because the primary users of military and ships colours were sea-going vessels. No one, at the time, saw fit to record who sewed the first model of the flag, an annoyance to be sure for those of us living now. I wish you would have mentioned the maker of the SSB. She and her family have quite a story to tell.
I was in 1st grade when Alaska and Hawaii became states. The lowering of the 48 star flag and raising of the 50 star flag at the school was done during a ceremony attended by all students and their family members. I still remember the feeling of pride for our flag and our country that day.
I lived in Philadelphia for years right in center city and the trip through old city I took was unbelievable to see the birth place of all that we know was amazing
There is one interesting part to the story you missed out, though it's not certain it is actually connected, but in a church in doncaster, england there is the 1580 tomb of James Washington whose coat of arms are strips with a line of three stars like george Washington's arms, its not certain he was related to the washingtons in doncaster or that it inspired the flag but one branch of the family did move to the colonies in the 1600's
Oldest flag is a tough nut to crack. The Danish battle standard from the 1200's has many similarities to the modern flag, much as the stars and stripes evolved over time. The note about how expensive changes to the flag would become is salient, as the U.S.A. flag is 3X5 while the majority of national flags are 3X6, so they saved some money making the flag a foot shorter!
US flags are made around a proportion standard, for every imcriment of measurement in the vertical they're to be 1.9 proportionally in the horizontal. There is no difference between a "US" flag and a "National flag" when it comes to those proportions. So no, there is no 3×5 and 3×6 flags, a flag that's 3 feet high is going to be 5.7 feet long, there is no exception to that rule.
@@dukecraig2402 Thank you. There are some internet shopping sights that offer all national flags at 3X5 and make no mention of the correct proportions you have pointed out. Now I need to find a retailer who manufactures to the correct size.
It is shocking to see how many people are ignorant regarding proper etiquette when displaying the flag, both inside and out. The most flagrant offense I witness almost daily is folks flying their flags at night without proper illumination.
Much worse is flying any national flag in soiled, faded and ragged tatters. Doing so, often for years, is extremely disrespectful. Second is placing your national flag as an item of clothing across your flabby buttocks or tiny crotch. Not at all patriotic.
The most flagrant offense i see is making the flag and design into clothing...especially adding partisan slogans or doo rags, bikinis, G strings, the ass of blue jeans, falsely faded flag designs....and of course hybrid flags that have pictures of wolves tearing through or that blend into confederate or other nations flags.
Reproducing the flag in a version with black-and-blue lines, or super-imposing a "Punisher" skull over it, are also quite disrespectful. As is leaving the flag outdoors 24-7 or dragging it, flapping in the breeze, behind your pickup truck until the end is all tattered and torn.
@@goodun2974 then there's the AR15 silhouette over it or in the canton or the raised fist in the canton..... So there are more disrespectd to get our goat than porch flags without lights on them or those flown at car dealers....at least they are US flags flying as intended (during the day) Most of our peculiar flag etiquette was invented in the 1920s...such as can't touch the ground. The US Army used to dip the Stars and Stripes Mex War all the way through WW1. Present arms at P&R or evening colors the lance staff color was draped on the ground as you see UK regiments do, then smartly brought back aloft. Before the Mexican War, few if any regiments and battalions carried a stars and stripes into the field. They carried a national ensign with the great seal on the right of a battalion standard with just the regiment insignia. The regimental today is more like that old National Ensign for the 1808 to 1848 Army.
Here is some interesting (to me) US Flag info that may contain urban legend; 1.) The flag seen by Key, and now at the Smithsonian, may not have flown overnight. Rain would have made it hang limp and not been visible to Key. Rather, a smaller flag was flown overnight. When the weather cleared in the AM the large flag was raised and then seen by Key. That is partly reported by Smithsonian Magazine. 2.) Per Wikipedia - “Old Glory" derives from a specific flag owned by sea captain William Driver. He eventually moved with it to Nashville, Tennessee. It was publicly displayed on holidays. During the Civil War confederate troops tried to take it from him. He resisted and with neighbors was able to secretly get it to a Union Commander. That flag now also resides at the Smithsonian. 3.) I heard a version of the Betsy Ross story where she suggested using 5 instead of 6 stars because they were cut much more easily from cloth.
Okay let me first say I love your channel!!! This was a great episode!! I could not help but hear Alaska 1859.... Am I crazy? or did I really hear that? Any way great episode!
Thanks for the great retelling of our flag's tale. My flag flies from the railing on my front porch. Since I can't lower it to half-staff, I attach a black streamer on announced days.
8:25 the revenue cutter service also had a flag from early 1800s with the stars canton instead of the seal. Tariffs collected at ports were the principal revenue of the government. Revenue Cutter Service flag with vertical stripes helped differentiate the customs warehouse from other port structures. The Revenue Cutter Service became the modern US Coast Guard while the function of collecting revenue fell to Customs and the IRS. Since it was a civilian agency instead of the military branch, some people will claim it is the civilian flag of the US. No legislation has ever designated a national military and separate civilian flag (with vertical stripes). So when people talk of the civilian flag or vertical strips - they do not know history. I certainly have no desire to pledge allegiance to a revenue flag or the IRS. Indoors, flags with gold fringe are decorative and designate ceremonial use, not that it is a "military" US flag as some uneducated in history may claim. Thank you History Guy and may our standard of 50 stars and 13 (horizontal) stripes proudly fly for We The People.
However, military units do use the gold fringe on the edges, but they are properly called "colors" the stars and stripes is the "national colors" or simply "the colors." Colors are banners with the fringe, mounted on a staff with a finial and adorned with cords. A unit of the Army, Air force, Marines, Navy, or other government department or official will have it's own unit or personal color designated. The color of fringe and cords designated. The cords of the national colors are red, white, and blue. (Look at the flags behind the speaker at press confrences) The Air force, Army, and Marines use an arrow shaped finial. The Navy uses different finials depending on rank of the commander. The same banner, without the staff, fringe, or cords, which is hoisted on a pole, is a flag. The typical stars and stripes as commercially sold on a staff, with an eagle finial, gold fringe, and gold cords, is just a flag. The only thing in common with military colors is the fringe. Thus the fuel for the conspiracies.
@@anonemaus159 A small side note regarding finials in the Army: the President (only) warrants a spread eagle finial on the national colors. As an interesting aside (and because as a former Rakkasan, I have to bring them up), there is also at least one exception to the spearhead finial for unit guidons. The 187th Infantry Regiment is authorized to use a Torii as their finial.
Our Flag represents the struggle that we do for democracy we have a very checkered past but we are trying to make a more perfect union and we have stuff to attend to atone for for our past but the flag is still a symbol of Freedom around the world
The US's past is far less checkered than any nation in the history of the world, you're just falling for the rhetoric pushed by people who put it under a microscope in a way they won't do to other nations particularly their own. Recently some jerk from Switzerland was online ragging all over the US including our health care system, I had to remind him, or most likely educate him in the first place, that his country's national wealth that enables them to have the health care system they do was built on the banking system that had stolen wealth including art works deposited there throughout the years by everyone from nations like the Nazi regime to African dictators that after ripping off their country's national resources for personal gain flee the places after getting their Swiss bank accounts fattened up. I told him the next time he's enjoying free dental care maybe he should think about all the gold fillings pulled from the jaws of Jewish people and deposited in their banks that's built his country's economy up so he can have his free health care. I never did hear back from him.
Very well done. One note: Back in 2000, I was visiting a friend and colleague in Cambridge, England. He took me to a church where there was a tomb of an ancestor of George Washington, with, of course, the Washington coat of arms, with its alternate red and white stripes. You show this coat of arms in this video, but you don't draw the connection between the alternate stripes of red and white that both the coat of arms and the U.S. flag contain. The red and white stripes on the coat of arms was, most probably, the inspiration for the red and white stripes on Old Glory.
it might seem odd to you that you and i were born be for the addition of alaska and hawaii to the united states of america. the history guy got us with the slip up of alaska added to statehood in 1859. if i remember my limited history it should have been 1959 but maybe it was not a typo or misspoken year but a test to see who finds an error. if this was a contest. do i get to be the town crier winner winner chicken dinner todays winner is ?????. back to the 48 starred flag it was the number of official states. please note alaska might have been a territory and when large amounts of oils and its nearness to russia ( alaska was secretary of state steward's folly because us bought it from russia. today it is a blessing of earthquakes and natural resources and before the bering strait water covered the land bridge between the former soviet union and the american continents (another north and south continental divide with the man made panama canal in central american country panama.
@@mrwaterschoot5617 _"the history guy got us with the slip up of alaska added to statehood in 1859. [sic]"_ He also did not show an image of the 49 star flag (seven rows of seven stars, each offset to the last). An image of the 4 cent 'flag' postage stamp of July 04, 1959 (Scott 1132) would have been a good choice. You won the 'test' to find an error? Names of states and nations are to be capitalized when written, as is the personal pronoun, 'I', and any letter that initiates a sentence. Punctuation is another matter.
@@-oiiio-3993 thanks my friend. i hard that using all capital letters is for loud people who need to put emphasis. because i had a manual typewriter from sears. my sister broke the shift for caps and cap locks is broke and to much more work for my hunt and peck typing for over 50 years even though i took.a business class in typing for a semester and i got a c for my efforts. ok but not a tribute to my skills. a c was a passing grade in a college prep program.
🇨🇦I like our flag..it speaks to the hippy years, is instantly recognizable all over the world, doesn't care too much about our checkered history, and well…maple syrup. The history of 🇱🇺 the Dutch flag of my birth country should be interesting also. Where's the orange? Why is it the inverse of the French flag? Good episode, thanks Mr. Guy.
🇩🇰 sadly my original post was deleted ... pointing out, that the danish flag (Dannebro) is recognized at the oldest flag in continuous use ... in 2019 we celebrated its 800th birthday.
hey THG. Love your videos. One correction though. Unless my hearing is way off, Alaska didn't become a state until 1959. The Alaska State Act was signed by Eisenhower in June of 1958, and Alaska officially became a state in January 1959. Just FYI. Take care.
The flag flown during the Battle of Fort McHenry is on display at the Smithsonian's American History Museum. The commander of the garrison was Major George Armistead. His nephew, Confederate Brigadier General Lewis Armistead, was a brigade commander in Virginia's Pickett's Division. He had successfully led charges at Malvern's Hill, Second Bull Run, and Fredericksburg. He was the commander of the small group of Confederates who made it to the "High-watermark of the Confederacy" during Picketts' ill-fated charge at Gettysburg. He was wounded during the attack and died of wounds two days later. He was buried next to his uncle in Baltimore, Maryland.
At some point, can we go into why the traditional way to display a flag on your home begins on Memorial Day and ends on Labor Day? This is how it was done while I was growing up, and I'm continuing the tradition without really knowing why at this point. Also, one of my neighbors displays something like 26 flags (including the Betsy Ross flag and the naval ensign) every year for Flag Day, and also on Labor Day (which was several days ago and he still has them up). A look a flag displaying traditions would be interesting! Thanks again, History Guy!
You missed a chance to include a really cool story about the flag that was originally called Old Glory by that sea captain. He removed to a Southern state after he retired from sailing, and lived in his house with his daughters. The Confederates knew of the existence of this flag, and sent soldiers to confiscate it so that they could destroy it. He kept it hidden through the entire War, and then had it brought out and flown when peace was declared. Although historians have not seemed to try to figure out where it was hidden, I think that it escaped confiscation during very thorough searches by being a concealed inside a quilt. After all, it would be considered Dishonor to despoil a lady's bed.
Once upon a time not so long ago (Depends on your Age and generation) I was a MIARNG Recruiter, I used to love to exhibit the Historical Flag reproductions. The first time, I got a call to my office from a school not far from my office asking for it, same day in messages on my answering machine I was Told that I was to pick up the flags and they were to be displayed at that school. The order took everyone by surprise on my team and I was very new at the job. I memorized as much as I could the afternoon and evening I picked up the stuff and set it up the following day at an Elementary school, that kinda dashed my expectations of being able to get qualified leads for enlistment. Some one had also forgotten to tell me that I was on the Flag detail for 3 days. Typical situation. As it would turn out all of the kids in the school district filed through, and I had fully memorized the stories for each of the flags. From JPJ to the Whiskey Rebellion flags including Betsey Ross and the Don’t tread on me, gadsden flag, and a few more. I don’t consider being an expert on them anymore but what I did do with what I had was at the time important to a lot of people! Even a few years later people reminded me of that school visit and how impressed they were, to know more about our flags than they had ever learned in their own school years. It’s with sadness that I’ve found out after my 20 years, that the Flag Display had not been used and was sold off from a state of Michigan Auction. Even today I would love to set up that display, for the public to see and gain to appreciation for. There is a bit of Difference between Patriots and Nationalists, both of which live all over the planet... ask yourself something, which one are you? I can not give you your Answer, but I’m sure that you can figure it out! Thanks again so much for this subject, my throat is dry and raspy from just thinking how many times I’ve done public speaking about the flags. I even years later got to be a impromptu speaker as they were on public display and some one was asking if anyone could tell them about a particular flag. I from memory started my speech on it out of order from its position along the display line and pretty soon I had a crowd of people listening and much to the Annoyance of my wife I was prompted to go on with the entire display! Some VIP’s were in the wings of this crowd. And later on I was given some attaboys, one in particular got me best, a senior officer with his wife came back to us later and they Addressed my wife for being Gracious enough to Share Me and our Time together at this place so that others were able to learn how significant our Nations flags had been! . {Thank You General it meant the world to us,and my wife was more forgiving afterwards!}. The National Guard, on watch as your Militia since 1636!
@@bloodybones63 Without any details about what the circumstances were at the time, just rest assured that being a wallflower was not the way that she was planning to be at the event. Just mentioning that there were Zebras, and a chance to touch them as well!😉
As a Dane I am proud to say that our country officially have the worlds oldest national flag ,Dannebrog, red with a white cross, and that since 15 of June 1219... this is even today celebrated on the day, every year.
The name "Old Glory" was crafted by Captain William Driver. He retired to Nashville, Tennessee and rests in the Old City Cemetery. His life would make a good story for the History Guy. I believe his flag now resides in the Smithsonian.
The location that the flag flown on Jan 1 1776 in "Cambridge MA" is now actually in SOMERVILLE MA as a national park known as "Prospect Hill". Somerville Massachusetts could use it's own History Guy treatment IMO as it's history can be followed back to the 1600's, and is thoroughly intertwined with the formation of the United States as a whole.
It's strange that something has simple as a flag can evoke such powerful emotions, as does the accompanying anthem. I'm proud to have served my Country in the U.S. NAVY. And I'm glad to be an American citizen born and raised. Autocracy or DEMOCRACY America your choice. ✌💙🇺🇸
11:37 "Alaska became a state on January 3rd, 1859." That would be incorrect, Mr. Geiger. It became a state in 1959. You were off by only 100 years. 😅🤣😂
AS ALWAYS THE HISTORY GUY, AN EXCELLENT VIDEO!! In viewing some programs regarding the Civil War, I've that stars on the National (Union) Colors) are gold in color. Was there a specific reason why this was so? 🤔🤔🤔✌✌✌✌
I notice that the 49-star flag shown in your interesting (what's the source?) scrolling diagram (bottom-center @11:28) does not have the same pattern as the 49-star flag in the following photograph (@11:37); the latter has the stars in rank-and-file order, while the former has them in staggered rows. I had not heard of the term Great Luminary; I like that design.
I have a picture of a flag flown over the historic Ft Clark Springs. It has two circles one inside the other of Yellow stars with an additional one in each corner of the blue field and what looks like 12 stripes.
I know where the 50 star flag was (officially) first flown. It was aboard the heavy cruiser USS Saint Paul CA-73; reason being because of its proximity to the International Date Line at the time it became official. I did not report for duty aboard until about 8 years later. Also, I have a 15 star 15 stripe flag which I flew for the 200th anniversaries of the Battle at Fort McHenry and the Battle of New Orleans for roughly the time the battles started and ended. I did not take into account the time difference; and as The History Guy has in an earlier video pointed out we did not even have time zones back then. I do have an ancestor with the West Tennessee Volunteers who was at the Battle of New Orleans. (Amazing the things you can learn using the internet.)
Possible future topic (if you haven't done it already): why is it that the *song* was written in 1814 but it didn't officially become the national anthem until 1931?
Although our modern flag has the stars arranged in neat rows with precise, orderly geometrical alignment and precise relationships to each other, the alignments between the States which those stars represent is anything but orderly!
Another interesting and informative video! I do question your count of Southern states! There were 11 with Kentucky and Missouri also having an order of secession. Where do you get your 15 count? Are you including the border states?
While there are certainly more rousing and melodious national anthems than ours, I am fond of our flag. Not at first though. Although it's been over six decades now, the reason I remember my first day of school at all is because it was my first encounter with the pledge of alliegence. It felt so strange I wanted to flee 😂 It was the ritual itself - first time I'd heard so many voices directed to say something, line by line - not the content that startled me. 😮
I really appreciate all your short history tales. I wonder if you could explain how an Italian explorer funded by the Spanish founded a British colony? I really don't know the connections. I am pretty sure you could explain it exactly in fifteen minutes or less. Oh, and I bet it has to do with Pirates!
God bless America
🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
I am a trained mezzo soprano. I can sing, for any occasion, 3 verses of "The Star Spangled Banner". The fact that I am a Navy veteran means that various veteran organizations have asked me to sing that selection, which I always do, and gladly. Pay optional.
The joy of singing our National Anthem always brings me such a thrill.
thank you for being a veteran of the female gender. i am not a veteran even thought i might have be an indirect relationship. by supporting the information technology side of the house on a government pricing system . there was a concern on the purchase order system that was going to require investigation. i was questioned and coached by a flying flunkey monkey vice president mr stuckey. he was coaching me to say nothing about anything that i might know. and i think i told the top banana that if i was called to testify that i would tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help me god and i did not need a bible to put one hand on and raise my right arm and swear to god. there is no problem telling the truth. i was brought up that way and to tell a lie brings the problem what lie to who you told. if you tell the wrong lie to the wrong person you get wrapped around an axel that you can not unwrap. now you get a false reality of truth.
back to the singer and our national anthem. if i tried to sing the national. a suttle joke including a mexican named joe. "jose can you see" i doubt that i would get paid an honorarium, i would have to pay a dishonorarium but try to collect when but went asked to pay for something i did not want. i use the elvis presley song and say return to sender. and when i find that i am wrong i admit my error and eat proverbial crow. and i lou grant fashion. mary i hate eating crow because it does not taste like chicken, no may no how.
back to the opera singer. she sings because it is the right thing to do, honorarium ot
The melody is from an old British drinking song.
The last line Mr. HistoryGuy spoke ... is that from one of the other verses? ... "So gallantly streaming ..."
@@-oiiio-3993 true. But it sounds better with Mr. Key's lyrics.
@@russcrawford3310, that phrase is from the first verse.
In older versions there were four verses, but the one verse that is not now sung has, shall we say, really, really obscure language.
Our National Anthem is understandable and has great flow with the three verses.
The flag has been part of the US Army's uniform for quite some time, but the War on Terror brought about a significant change to its wear. Since June 14, 2004 (IIRC), the flag has been a permanent part of the combat uniform. Previously, it was sewn on roughly 30 days prior to deployment and removed roughly 30 days after returning home. Hence, the Battle Dress Uniform (BDU), be it Woodland or Desert pattern, saw the flag sewn on the right shoulder and below the Shoulder Sleeve Insignia - Former Wartime Service (combat patch) if the latter had been earned. This was considered by some to be disrespectful to the flag, but it made sense as the combat patch was a permanent part of the uniform. When we adopted the Army Combat Uniform (ACU) in Universal Camouflage Pattern (UCP)--aka the world's absolute best uniform that made us invisible to any threat--the regulation was changed to place the flag above the combat patch, both being attached via hook and loop (Velcro).
Out of 21 years in uniform, I wore the flag from about January 2003 to March 2004, then from June 2004 through my retirement. A full color flag was worn throughout most of that time, with subdued version worn in Afghansitan nine years ago. I took pride knowing that I represented one of the best nations ever founded, and being part of one of the best armies in history. We have our problems, especially in the 2020s, but we also continue to stand as a monument to our history and our Founding Fathers' ideals. Things are going to get worse before they get better, though I'll leave my personal politics out of this comments sections. I think that a career in Combat Arms and future potential in law enforcement speaks enough about my views.
Praise to you brother. Much appreciation for your sacrifices. Hey do you know why the flag on your uniform is backwards? No cheating on Googling it.
@@jonathanperry8331 isn't it because if you were to charge into battle with a flag, that would be the direction the flag would fly? That's what I was told and would love to know if there's a more "professional" answer lol
@@jonathanperry8331 I hate that people would say the flag patch is backwards. If the wind is blowing from the right to the left, that is exactly how the flag would look.
@@MrT------5743 exactly! I have a lot of family and friends that were in the military and a lot of them don't know that. Always move forward God bless
@@martinflores1743 that is absolutely correct. I just met so many people they couldn't answer that question who served in the military
For those interested, the Fort McHenry flag is on display at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.
Thanks for this one. I love these videos. 208 yrs wow.
This touched on the original purpose of a flag during a war. Flags were to designate "rally points" so that the unit would know where they should be in battle. We still have flags that denote units, but with the advent of the radio and other forms of communication, it has diminished. Striking the colors, ie lowering the flag, might denote surrender. That is why the flag bearer was so important. At sea, a ship that was surrendering would lower its flag.
Naval vessels (I'm thinking Royal Navy, but others likely the same) fly multiple battle flags, just in case one or two are shot away. You don't want the enemy thinking you've surrendered when you haven't.
@@superted6960
Unless your pretending to be a Whaler and your actually a British Man O’ War. “Master & Commander” (Russell Crow)
While visiting the Smithsonian Institute a couple decades ago the Star Spangled Banner was in the process of being restored and it could be viewed through a glass window spread across a large table. The hairs stood up on the back of my neck and a chill shuddered through my body upon seeing it. It has gone through some hard times but it will go through better times ahead.
When I was last there, about 1966 or so,
she was on a wall, covered with a glass
sheet. (Most likely Plexiglas.) She
showed all her battle scars.
steve
@@steveskouson9620 I first saw it the same as you but probably closer to the 50’s. Although gigantic I noticed that it was too tall to fit in that case so the bottom of the flag had several folds...I was just a kid back then.
Awesome! I was hoping someone would mention this display. My family visited it back then and found it very moving.
@@banjoman101145, I was 8.
I grew up in Saverna Park, in Maryland. DC was close by,
and a trip and back left us about 6 hours.
steve
I saw it in the '90s and got a similar chill.
Your history sessions on different topics never ceases to amaze me!
THG: "On this date in history Francis Scott Key penned a poem which became our national anthem and has been butchered by more people than any other in the last 200 years!" 😅
I am flying a 15 star and stripe flag today. I can't stand some of the ways the anthem has been sung, but go to some college football game where the band has a great presentation.
@@Sam2sham I had Buffalo Bills' season tickets for 22 years, and I heard many renditions of the anthem. One time in the mid-90s, it was one of the popular boy bands, I don't remember which one; they did a good job. The worst was Broadway actor Colm Wilkinson. Stretched out a song that goes 1:25 to 1:30 into almost 2 minutes. Everyone who sings it should be told; it's the National Anthem, not a career move.
It is NOT an easy song to 'sing'. Those that butcher it are those who believe they can sing it well....
@@QuantumRift The poem is set to the tune of a drinking song. Which should suggest the proper state to actually sing the song.🙄
@@tygrkhat4087 couldn't agree more! I hate when they try to turn it into an audition. Sing it the way it was meant to be sung, in honor of the nation, or don't sing it.
This was fascinating. I have seen a lot of the starfield patterns, but I had never heard of, nor seen, the “Luminary” star-shaped pattern. That was a new one on me!
Always Good. Thanks
You are a fine fellow. You do these episodes so well it is always a pleasure to watch.
If I remember Defenders Day (today) was the first national holiday for the US federal government. Still a holiday in Baltimore unless changed in the last 8 years.
I participated in Defenders Day celebrations there for about a decade before the Bicentennial of 1814. This includes hoisting the large banner during the fireworks illumination, and doing evening colors the next afternoon. We typically started with a visit to Mary Pinkersgill's "Flag House" where the fort banner was sewn....followed by a schooner crossing to Fort Street for a military dress parade to the fort.
I miss those days.
I was a leader of my son's cub scout den and one thing we covered was information about the US Flag. We covered many of the different styles etc but with me being a space nerd I asked the den where is the furthest US flag from us right now. Some kids were thinking about the furthest US state from us. Another kid thought there is US flags in other countries like where US military were stationed. I hinted think way further, like in space. One kid then remembered the flags planted on the moon. I said even further. They thought maybe Mars. I said way further.
Voyager 1 is the furthest US flag from us right now and for the foreseeable future. 14.6 billion miles and is outside the solar system. Launched in 1977 and is still transmitting back to us probably until the kids graduate high school. It is almost 1 light day away (21 hrs 51 min)
Billion miles not trillion.
This guy’s stories are the best of history!
Fun with flags, by Sheldon Cooper
The 50 star flag was designed in the home town of General William T. Sherman and myself, Lancaster, Ohio.
Thanks, Lance. Blessings for 'our' history. Worn on my right arm as 'our army.' 🇺🇲 Stirs my heart. ❤️
Thank you, THG. This was extremely interesting and I learned a lot about a subject that I've always loved - the American flag. Thanks, as always, for your hard work.
It's wild to me that my grandparents were born under a flag quite different to the one I have always known. My parents, too, of course, but the flag from 1896 is quite different to today's.
Old Glory 🇺🇸
Thanks, I really enjoyed this one.. I am kind of a flag collector and have a number of historic and vintage flags. As I am getting older, I have decided reduce my collection and have began donating the vintage ones to museums.
@sam wilson If you're able, please ensure that when you definitely won't be looking at them anymore, that the rest make it to the museums.
@@lisahinton9682 I am giving the vintage ones to museums and the historic replicas to the boy scouts.
Always fascinating! Thank you.
God Bless America! 💪🇺🇸🙌
Excellent video sir! I learned a lot, as always. I was surprised to learn that our nation indeed had a 49-star flag for a time. For some reason, I had always assumed that, since Alaska and Hawaii both joined the union in 1959, that the flag went from 48 stars straight to 50. I guess I assumed that both those states joined the union at exactly the same time. Nice to know the full details!
Thank you… just now getting this historical treat.🤔❤🇺🇸
Sometimes when things is falling apart, they may actually be falling into place...so don't bother much...for nature knows better than you ❤️
I had always heard that General Washington's "Identification" flag, flown outside his office wherever he was, was a blue square with 13 white stars in a circle. The "Betsy Ross" flag, then, was simply a combination of the 2nd "Sons of Liberty" Flag of 13 horizontal red & white stripes with General Washington's flag in the upper-left corner.
Great video! This answered a lot of questions that I’ve had from over the years.
This one was an automatic keeper for the title alone. Haven't watched it yet. Saved to playlist. Thanks History Guy!
I served on the only ship named for Francis Scott Key, USS Francis Scott Key SSBN 657
Ha ha ha... when you started scrolling all of the different flags, my TV started freaking out as it couldn't handle the red and white stripes. Great video HG!
The best part of American flag history is every flag flown as a national flag is still an American flag.
It amuses me when I hear people from other countries who question or even mock U.S. citizens for how much we revere and/or display our flag. Although I do refrain from pointing this out for diplomatic reasons, whenever I do encounter this outside sentiment towards 'Old Glory,' my thoughts are, "It's because we have a flag and country that we are exceptionally proud of."
@@skyden24195 and God bless you Americans for being so proud of your nation. Despite our early historical enmity and modern mickey taking, I for one hold you yanks as dear friends. Respect for the UK!
I was told in school but was never taught why our flag has 232 variations . Now I know, thanks History Guy.
Good morning to everyone watching from Ft Worth TX....I have seen the flag that flew over Ft McHenry that fateful night at the Smithsonian Museum of American History..
Good morning from WI William
Thank-you for a brief history of the Star-Spangled Banner. It is quite the sight to see in person. Here in Baltimore we understand that designing the new flag was given by Congress to the Navel commission headed by Francis Hopkinson. This is most probably because the primary users of military and ships colours were sea-going vessels. No one, at the time, saw fit to record who sewed the first model of the flag, an annoyance to be sure for those of us living now. I wish you would have mentioned the maker of the SSB. She and her family have quite a story to tell.
l served under Old Glory at sea many years ago....Thanks to THG🎀.....Old Navy Flying Shoe🇺🇸
Great history lesson with some good mythbusting around the "Betsy Ross" flag. Always good to seem things around our national mythos cleared up.
I was in 1st grade when Alaska and Hawaii became states. The lowering of the 48 star flag and raising of the 50 star flag at the school was done during a ceremony attended by all students and their family members. I still remember the feeling of pride for our flag and our country that day.
Wow, that was really good stuff. I had no idea of such tumult about the flag. Glad it has calmed down a bit by now.
I lived in Philadelphia for years right in center city and the trip through old city I took was unbelievable to see the birth place of all that we know was amazing
I love the graphic showing all of the changes and the alternates.
Very informative , a thousand plunks.
There is one interesting part to the story you missed out, though it's not certain it is actually connected, but in a church in doncaster, england there is the 1580 tomb of James Washington whose coat of arms are strips with a line of three stars like george Washington's arms, its not certain he was related to the washingtons in doncaster or that it inspired the flag but one branch of the family did move to the colonies in the 1600's
Just watched a little video from that church. Thank you for your comment.
Oldest flag is a tough nut to crack. The Danish battle standard from the 1200's has many similarities to the modern flag, much as the stars and stripes evolved over time. The note about how expensive changes to the flag would become is salient, as the U.S.A. flag is 3X5 while the majority of national flags are 3X6, so they saved some money making the flag a foot shorter!
US flags are made around a proportion standard, for every imcriment of measurement in the vertical they're to be 1.9 proportionally in the horizontal.
There is no difference between a "US" flag and a "National flag" when it comes to those proportions.
So no, there is no 3×5 and 3×6 flags, a flag that's 3 feet high is going to be 5.7 feet long, there is no exception to that rule.
@@dukecraig2402 Thank you. There are some internet shopping sights that offer all national flags at 3X5 and make no mention of the correct proportions you have pointed out. Now I need to find a retailer who manufactures to the correct size.
Great Stuff. Thank You.
It is shocking to see how many people are ignorant regarding proper etiquette when displaying the flag, both inside and out. The most flagrant offense I witness almost daily is folks flying their flags at night without proper illumination.
Much worse is flying any national flag in soiled, faded and ragged tatters. Doing so, often for years, is extremely disrespectful. Second is placing your national flag as an item of clothing across your flabby buttocks or tiny crotch. Not at all patriotic.
The most flagrant offense i see is making the flag and design into clothing...especially adding partisan slogans or doo rags, bikinis, G strings, the ass of blue jeans, falsely faded flag designs....and of course hybrid flags that have pictures of wolves tearing through or that blend into confederate or other nations flags.
Reproducing the flag in a version with black-and-blue lines, or super-imposing a "Punisher" skull over it, are also quite disrespectful. As is leaving the flag outdoors 24-7 or dragging it, flapping in the breeze, behind your pickup truck until the end is all tattered and torn.
@@goodun2974 then there's the AR15 silhouette over it or in the canton or the raised fist in the canton.....
So there are more disrespectd to get our goat than porch flags without lights on them or those flown at car dealers....at least they are US flags flying as intended (during the day)
Most of our peculiar flag etiquette was invented in the 1920s...such as can't touch the ground.
The US Army used to dip the Stars and Stripes Mex War all the way through WW1. Present arms at P&R or evening colors the lance staff color was draped on the ground as you see UK regiments do, then smartly brought back aloft.
Before the Mexican War, few if any regiments and battalions carried a stars and stripes into the field. They carried a national ensign with the great seal on the right of a battalion standard with just the regiment insignia. The regimental today is more like that old National Ensign for the 1808 to 1848 Army.
Trump humping flags was a definite violation.
Fascinating!
Here is some interesting (to me) US Flag info that may contain urban legend;
1.) The flag seen by Key, and now at the Smithsonian, may not have flown overnight. Rain would have made it hang limp and not been visible to Key. Rather, a smaller flag was flown overnight. When the weather cleared in the AM the large flag was raised and then seen by Key. That is partly reported by Smithsonian Magazine.
2.) Per Wikipedia - “Old Glory" derives from a specific flag owned by sea captain William Driver. He eventually moved with it to Nashville, Tennessee. It was publicly displayed on holidays. During the Civil War confederate troops tried to take it from him. He resisted and with neighbors was able to secretly get it to a Union Commander. That flag now also resides at the Smithsonian.
3.) I heard a version of the Betsy Ross story where she suggested using 5 instead of 6 stars because they were cut much more easily from cloth.
I agree about the rain, etc.
Could you do a video about Hannah Duston.
Okay let me first say I love your channel!!! This was a great episode!! I could not help but hear Alaska 1859.... Am I crazy? or did I really hear that? Any way great episode!
Thanks for the great retelling of our flag's tale. My flag flies from the railing on my front porch. Since I can't lower it to half-staff, I attach a black streamer on announced days.
8:25 the revenue cutter service also had a flag from early 1800s with the stars canton instead of the seal. Tariffs collected at ports were the principal revenue of the government. Revenue Cutter Service flag with vertical stripes helped differentiate the customs warehouse from other port structures. The Revenue Cutter Service became the modern US Coast Guard while the function of collecting revenue fell to Customs and the IRS.
Since it was a civilian agency instead of the military branch, some people will claim it is the civilian flag of the US. No legislation has ever designated a national military and separate civilian flag (with vertical stripes). So when people talk of the civilian flag or vertical strips - they do not know history. I certainly have no desire to pledge allegiance to a revenue flag or the IRS.
Indoors, flags with gold fringe are decorative and designate ceremonial use, not that it is a "military" US flag as some uneducated in history may claim.
Thank you History Guy and may our standard of 50 stars and 13 (horizontal) stripes proudly fly for We The People.
However, military units do use the gold fringe on the edges, but they are properly called "colors" the stars and stripes is the "national colors" or simply "the colors." Colors are banners with the fringe, mounted on a staff with a finial and adorned with cords. A unit of the Army, Air force, Marines, Navy, or other government department or official will have it's own unit or personal color designated. The color of fringe and cords designated. The cords of the national colors are red, white, and blue. (Look at the flags behind the speaker at press confrences) The Air force, Army, and Marines use an arrow shaped finial. The Navy uses different finials depending on rank of the commander.
The same banner, without the staff, fringe, or cords, which is hoisted on a pole, is a flag.
The typical stars and stripes as commercially sold on a staff, with an eagle finial, gold fringe, and gold cords, is just a flag. The only thing in common with military colors is the fringe. Thus the fuel for the conspiracies.
@@anonemaus159 A small side note regarding finials in the Army: the President (only) warrants a spread eagle finial on the national colors.
As an interesting aside (and because as a former Rakkasan, I have to bring them up), there is also at least one exception to the spearhead finial for unit guidons. The 187th Infantry Regiment is authorized to use a Torii as their finial.
Our family toured Fort McHenry where the Flag that Francis Scott Key was flying, very touching indeed.
Our Flag represents the struggle that we do for democracy we have a very checkered past but we are trying to make a more perfect union and we have stuff to attend to atone for for our past but the flag is still a symbol of Freedom around the world
The US's past is far less checkered than any nation in the history of the world, you're just falling for the rhetoric pushed by people who put it under a microscope in a way they won't do to other nations particularly their own.
Recently some jerk from Switzerland was online ragging all over the US including our health care system, I had to remind him, or most likely educate him in the first place, that his country's national wealth that enables them to have the health care system they do was built on the banking system that had stolen wealth including art works deposited there throughout the years by everyone from nations like the Nazi regime to African dictators that after ripping off their country's national resources for personal gain flee the places after getting their Swiss bank accounts fattened up.
I told him the next time he's enjoying free dental care maybe he should think about all the gold fillings pulled from the jaws of Jewish people and deposited in their banks that's built his country's economy up so he can have his free health care.
I never did hear back from him.
Very well done. One note: Back in 2000, I was visiting a friend and colleague in Cambridge, England. He took me to a church where there was a tomb of an ancestor of George Washington, with, of course, the Washington coat of arms, with its alternate red and white stripes. You show this coat of arms in this video, but you don't draw the connection between the alternate stripes of red and white that both the coat of arms and the U.S. flag contain. The red and white stripes on the coat of arms was, most probably, the inspiration for the red and white stripes on Old Glory.
thanks
It feels kind of strange to know I was born under the 48 star flag.
it might seem odd to you that you and i were born be for the addition of alaska and hawaii to the united states of america. the history guy got us with the slip up of alaska added to statehood in 1859. if i remember my limited history it should have been 1959 but maybe it was not a typo or misspoken year but a test to see who finds an error. if this was a contest. do i get to be the town crier winner winner chicken dinner todays winner is ?????.
back to the 48 starred flag it was the number of official states. please note alaska might have been a territory and when large amounts of oils and its nearness to russia ( alaska was secretary of state steward's folly because us bought it from russia. today it is a blessing of earthquakes and natural resources and before the bering strait water covered the land bridge between the former soviet union and the american continents (another north and south continental divide with the man made panama canal in central american country panama.
Forty nine for me.
@@mrwaterschoot5617 _"the history guy got us with the slip up of alaska added to statehood in 1859. [sic]"_
He also did not show an image of the 49 star flag (seven rows of seven stars, each offset to the last).
An image of the 4 cent 'flag' postage stamp of July 04, 1959 (Scott 1132) would have been a good choice.
You won the 'test' to find an error?
Names of states and nations are to be capitalized when written, as is the personal pronoun, 'I', and any letter that initiates a sentence. Punctuation is another matter.
@@-oiiio-3993 thanks my friend. i hard that using all capital letters is for loud people who need to put emphasis. because i had a manual typewriter from sears. my sister broke the shift for caps and cap locks is broke and to much more work for my hunt and peck typing for over 50 years even though i took.a business class in typing for a semester and i got a c for my efforts. ok but not a tribute to my skills. a c was a passing grade in a college prep program.
Wow, I had no ckue..
Thank you
I love our flag. To those of us whom have shed blood sweat and tears for it, it has a much more rich meaning.
🇨🇦I like our flag..it speaks to the hippy years, is instantly recognizable all over the world, doesn't care too much about our checkered history, and well…maple syrup. The history of 🇱🇺 the Dutch flag of my birth country should be interesting also. Where's the orange? Why is it the inverse of the French flag? Good episode, thanks Mr. Guy.
🇩🇰 sadly my original post was deleted ... pointing out, that the danish flag (Dannebro) is recognized at the oldest flag in continuous use ... in 2019 we celebrated its 800th birthday.
This should be shown in every tax supported government run public school. Thanks to H.G. for posting.
hey THG. Love your videos. One correction though. Unless my hearing is way off, Alaska didn't become a state until 1959. The Alaska State Act was signed by Eisenhower in June of 1958, and Alaska officially became a state in January 1959. Just FYI. Take care.
Fascinating.
Flag at 4:25 is the fort Mercer flag. Flown at the battle of red bank in current National Park, NJ. My home town
The flag flown during the Battle of Fort McHenry is on display at the Smithsonian's American History Museum. The commander of the garrison was Major George Armistead. His nephew, Confederate Brigadier General Lewis Armistead, was a brigade commander in Virginia's Pickett's Division. He had successfully led charges at Malvern's Hill, Second Bull Run, and Fredericksburg. He was the commander of the small group of Confederates who made it to the "High-watermark of the Confederacy" during Picketts' ill-fated charge at Gettysburg. He was wounded during the attack and died of wounds two days later. He was buried next to his uncle in Baltimore, Maryland.
Nicely done!
Gallantly Streaming is also how one would describe anytime History Guy broadcasts live.
Verbal typo: Alaska 1859 instead of 1959.
11:35 timestamp
? ...Alaska and Hawai became official states after WWII. So 1959 that is.
@@theblackhand6485 He said 1859. I was offering a correction.
At some point, can we go into why the traditional way to display a flag on your home begins on Memorial Day and ends on Labor Day? This is how it was done while I was growing up, and I'm continuing the tradition without really knowing why at this point. Also, one of my neighbors displays something like 26 flags (including the Betsy Ross flag and the naval ensign) every year for Flag Day, and also on Labor Day (which was several days ago and he still has them up). A look a flag displaying traditions would be interesting! Thanks again, History Guy!
You missed a chance to include a really cool story about the flag that was originally called Old Glory by that sea captain. He removed to a Southern state after he retired from sailing, and lived in his house with his daughters. The Confederates knew of the existence of this flag, and sent soldiers to confiscate it so that they could destroy it. He kept it hidden through the entire War, and then had it brought out and flown when peace was declared. Although historians have not seemed to try to figure out where it was hidden, I think that it escaped confiscation during very thorough searches by being a concealed inside a quilt. After all, it would be considered Dishonor to despoil a lady's bed.
Once upon a time not so long ago (Depends on your Age and generation) I was a MIARNG Recruiter, I used to love to exhibit the Historical Flag reproductions. The first time, I got a call to my office from a school not far from my office asking for it, same day in messages on my answering machine I was Told that I was to pick up the flags and they were to be displayed at that school. The order took everyone by surprise on my team and I was very new at the job.
I memorized as much as I could the afternoon and evening I picked up the stuff and set it up the following day at an Elementary school, that kinda dashed my expectations of being able to get qualified leads for enlistment. Some one had also forgotten to tell me that I was on the Flag detail for 3 days. Typical situation. As it would turn out all of the kids in the school district filed through, and I had fully memorized the stories for each of the flags. From JPJ to the Whiskey Rebellion flags including Betsey Ross and the Don’t tread on me, gadsden flag, and a few more.
I don’t consider being an expert on them anymore but what I did do with what I had was at the time important to a lot of people! Even a few years later people reminded me of that school visit and how impressed they were, to know more about our flags than they had ever learned in their own school years. It’s with sadness that I’ve found out after my 20 years, that the Flag Display had not been used and was sold off from a state of Michigan Auction. Even today I would love to set up that display, for the public to see and gain to appreciation for.
There is a bit of Difference between Patriots and Nationalists, both of which live all over the planet... ask yourself something, which one are you? I can not give you your Answer, but I’m sure that you can figure it out!
Thanks again so much for this subject, my throat is dry and raspy from just thinking how many times I’ve done public speaking about the flags.
I even years later got to be a impromptu speaker as they were on public display and some one was asking if anyone could tell them about a particular flag. I from memory started my speech on it out of order from its position along the display line and pretty soon I had a crowd of people listening and much to the Annoyance of my wife I was prompted to go on with the entire display! Some VIP’s were in the wings of this crowd. And later on I was given some attaboys, one in particular got me best, a senior officer with his wife came back to us later and they Addressed my wife for being Gracious enough to Share Me and our Time together at this place so that others were able to learn how significant our Nations flags had been! . {Thank You General it meant the world to us,and my wife was more forgiving afterwards!}. The National Guard, on watch as your Militia since 1636!
Your wife should have been proud of you, instead of annoyed.
@@bloodybones63
Without any details about what the circumstances were at the time, just rest assured that being a wallflower was not the way that she was planning to be at the event. Just mentioning that there were Zebras, and a chance to touch them as well!😉
Thank you for your detailed message here. Grok. I was my ARNG retention NCO.
@@rdotkey
Up late ?
I’m going fishing, maybe catching some too!
It’s so foggy here that I cannot see the street yet and it’s daylight already. SMH 😬☹️
@@andrewostrelczuk406 Good luck fishing!
As a Dane I am proud to say that our country officially have the worlds oldest national flag ,Dannebrog, red with a white cross, and that since 15 of June 1219... this is even today celebrated on the day, every year.
The name "Old Glory" was crafted by Captain William Driver. He retired to Nashville, Tennessee and rests in the Old City Cemetery. His life would make a good story for the History Guy. I believe his flag now resides in the Smithsonian.
My family traces back to Betsy Ross on my paternal grandmothers side. Needless to say, we have heard the story. ")
I’m descended from George Ross, signer of the Declaration of Independence and uncle of John Ross, Betsy’s first husband. We’re practically cousins!
The location that the flag flown on Jan 1 1776 in "Cambridge MA" is now actually in SOMERVILLE MA as a national park known as "Prospect Hill".
Somerville Massachusetts could use it's own History Guy treatment IMO as it's history can be followed back to the 1600's, and is thoroughly intertwined with the formation of the United States as a whole.
THG: Awesomeness!
I recall us Texans dealing with the addition of Alaska.
Unsettling.
Love Old Glory!
It's strange that something has simple as a flag can evoke such powerful emotions, as does the accompanying anthem. I'm proud to have served my Country in the U.S. NAVY. And I'm glad to be an American citizen born and raised.
Autocracy or DEMOCRACY America your choice. ✌💙🇺🇸
11:37 "Alaska became a state on January 3rd, 1859." That would be incorrect, Mr. Geiger. It became a state in 1959. You were off by only 100 years. 😅🤣😂
the misspoke made me turn on the cc to double check. I know you knew better, but sometimes words just flow.
And here is another thumbs up 👍so you get two of dem.
I love my country!!
I've tried to imagine the flag with 50 red and white stripes and I figure from a distance, it might look mostly pink.
Red / white seersucker.
Was alive for the add of 49 and 50. I also liked the "Don't Tread on Me" snake flag.
Great video.
Back at it again.I
AS ALWAYS THE HISTORY GUY, AN EXCELLENT VIDEO!!
In viewing some programs regarding the Civil War, I've that stars on the National (Union) Colors) are gold in color. Was there a specific reason why this was so? 🤔🤔🤔✌✌✌✌
I notice that the 49-star flag shown in your interesting (what's the source?) scrolling diagram (bottom-center @11:28) does not have the same pattern as the 49-star flag in the following photograph (@11:37); the latter has the stars in rank-and-file order, while the former has them in staggered rows.
I had not heard of the term Great Luminary; I like that design.
Well done!
I have a picture of a flag flown over the historic Ft Clark Springs.
It has two circles one inside the other of Yellow stars with an additional one in each corner of the blue field and what looks like 12 stripes.
I know where the 50 star flag was (officially) first flown. It was aboard the heavy cruiser USS Saint Paul CA-73; reason being because of its proximity to the International Date Line at the time it became official. I did not report for duty aboard until about 8 years later. Also, I have a 15 star 15 stripe flag which I flew for the 200th anniversaries of the Battle at Fort McHenry and the Battle of New Orleans for roughly the time the battles started and ended. I did not take into account the time difference; and as The History Guy has in an earlier video pointed out we did not even have time zones back then. I do have an ancestor with the West Tennessee Volunteers who was at the Battle of New Orleans. (Amazing the things you can learn using the internet.)
Possible future topic (if you haven't done it already): why is it that the *song* was written in 1814 but it didn't officially become the national anthem until 1931?
Near where a friend of mine lives, there's a house flying a 48-star US Naval Jack.
Although our modern flag has the stars arranged in neat rows with precise, orderly geometrical alignment and precise relationships to each other, the alignments between the States which those stars represent is anything but orderly!
Another interesting and informative video! I do question your count of Southern states! There were 11 with Kentucky and Missouri also having an order of secession. Where do you get your 15 count? Are you including the border states?
While there are certainly more rousing and melodious national anthems than ours, I am fond of our flag. Not at first though. Although it's been over six decades now, the reason I remember my first day of school at all is because it was my first encounter with the pledge of alliegence. It felt so strange I wanted to flee 😂 It was the ritual itself - first time I'd heard so many voices directed to say something, line by line - not the content that startled me. 😮
I really appreciate all your short history tales. I wonder if you could explain how an Italian explorer funded by the Spanish founded a British colony? I really don't know the connections. I am pretty sure you could explain it exactly in fifteen minutes or less. Oh, and I bet it has to do with Pirates!
The History Guy, Fun with Flags
The first continental colors were flown by..... you guessed it, a former pirate. because don't all great stories involve pirates?
...and the Smurfs.