Introduction to flags

When most people refer to “the flag,” they are referring to the American flag, but there are, of course, countless other types of flags. Every nation has its own flag, as does each of the fifty states that make up the United States. In addition, most institutions or organizations, such as universities, schools, and civic clubs have a flag. Some flags, such as the POW/MIA flag, recognize causes, while other flags promote political candidates or sports teams. Anyone can make a flag and display it for whatever reason they choose.

 

While some people wave a flag in their hands, hang it from a balcony, or post it on a wall, the traditional way to display a flag is to use a flagpole. Flagpoles may be short or tall, and they can be inside or outside. Indoor flagpoles usually rest in a flag stand while outdoor flagpoles are often secured into the ground. Some private residences mount a short flagpole at an angle from the side of the house. Throughout the world, at schools, government buildings, workplaces, and private homes, you will see flags of all types proudly displayed on flagpoles.

 

The most common American flag is three feet by five feet and often flies on a fifteen-foot flagpole, but there are both smaller and larger flag options. Some uniforms contain small shoulder patches that display the flag while some businesses fly flags with a square footage of several hundred feet. 

 

While anyone can make or fly a flag, the American flag has a recognized historic solemnity unlike any other American flag. The flag’s nicknames include “Old Glory” and indicate the affection that Americans feel for the flag. Americans even write songs about the flag (e.g. “She’s a Grand Old Flag” and “The Stars and Stripes Forever”). Historic legend accompanies Betsy Ross’s creation of the first American flag, and some of the indelible images of American history—such as the World War Two battle of Iwo Jima and man’s first steps on the moon—involve the flag. In fact, it was not the country at large but a single American flag that inspired Francis Scott Key to write “The Star-Spangled Banner”—the song that became the American national anthem.