Care of the American Flag

Secondary MethodsEDUC 305

February 26, 2002

Objective

After a brief lecture on the history and care of the American flag with explanation and modeling of folding the flag, students will properly fold a paper representation of the American flag into the “Three-Cornered Hat.”

Symbols

On June 14, 1777, in order to establish an official flag for the new nation, the Continental Congress passed the first Flag Act: "Resolved, That the flag of the United States be made of thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new Constellation."

SymbolsOur National Flag represents: The flag is the symbol of our national unity, our

national endeavor, our national aspiration. The flag tells of the struggle for independence, of

union preserved, of liberty and union one and inseparable, of the sacrifices of brave men and women to whom the ideals and honor of this nation have been dearer than life.

It speaks of equal rights, of the inspiration of free institutions exemplified and vindicated, and of liberty under law.

Symbols

My colors symbolize the patriotic ideals and qualities of the citizens of my country.

Red - Hardness & Valor White - Purity & Innocence Blue - Vigilance, Perseverance, &

Justice

History

Throughout the History of the United States, our flag has undergone significant changes in design.

History

Care of the Flag-Display

Display the flag only from daylight until dark, unless illuminated, at all schools and polling places

Display the flag to the right from the speakers perspective or in the center of a group

Display the flag with the blue field at top left from audience perspective

Care of the Flag-Prohibitions

Do not allow the flag to touch the ground

Do not disfigure the flag Do not display the flag in

inappropriate situations

Care of the Flag-Destruction

Destroy the flag by burning Dispose of the flag by burying Conducted in a solemn ceremony

befitting our national symbol

Folding the Flag

The flag is lowered daily at the last note of retreat. Special care should be taken that no part of the flag touches the ground. The Flag is then carefully folded into the shape of a three-cornered hat, emblematic of the hats worn by colonial soldiers during the war for Independence.

This custom of special folding is reserved for the United States Flag alone.

Practical Exercise

Folding the Flag

Practical Exercise

Hand out paper flags

Practical Exercise To properly fold the

Flag, begin by holding it waist-high with another person so that its surface is parallel to the ground.

Fold-1 Fold the lower half

of the stripe section lengthwise over the field of stars, holding the bottom and top edges securely.

Fold-2 Fold the flag again

lengthwise with the blue field on the outside.

Fold-3 Make a triangular

fold by bringing the striped corner of the folded edge to meet the open (top) edge of the flag.

Fold-4 Turn the outer (end)

point inward, parallel to the open edge, to form a second triangle.

Fold-5 The triangular

folding is continued until the entire length of the flag is folded in this manner.

Fold-6 The triangular

folding is continued until the entire length of the flag is folded in this manner.

Fold-7 The triangular

folding is continued until the entire length of the flag is folded in this manner.

Fold-8 The triangular

folding is continued until the entire length of the flag is folded in this manner.

Fold-9 The triangular

folding is continued until the entire length of the flag is folded in this manner.

Fold-10 The triangular

folding is continued until the entire length of the flag is folded in this manner.

Fold-11 The triangular

folding is continued until the entire length of the flag is folded in this manner.

Fold-12 The triangular

folding is continued until the entire length of the flag is folded in this manner.

The Three-cornered Hat And in the folding,

the red and white stripes are finally wrapped into the blue, as the light of day vanishes into the darkness of night.

Questions

How many years has the 50 Star Flag been our national flag?

What is the name given to our national flag after it has been folded? Why?

What do the colors of the flag stand for? Has your opinion and treatment of our

flag changed after September 11, 2001?

References

Flag of the United States of America. (1994, November 20). The United States Flag Page. Retrieved February 22, 2002 from World Wide Web: http://www.usflag.org