A Historical Presentation of the American Flag Proudly Displayed Every Year on July 4

The history of the  great  Flag of the United States of America – as shared by Santa Clarita Elks Lodge 2379 officers at their  Friday night dinner closest to June 14 Flag Day –  was presented June 13th this year.  This is a very  timely event with Independence Day forthcoming on July 4.     The Young Marines and Boy Scouts presented each flag during the ceremony, as described by the Lodge officers – from inception to the stars and stripes of today. 

   From the landing of the Pilgrims in 1620 until 1775, the Flag of England was the Flag of the Peoples of America.  The Revolutionary War began April 19, 1775 and ended September 3, 1783, as  colonists began to shape their banner or flag. 

The Pine Flag  was carried by the continental forces in the Battle of Bunker Hill.  The Southern colonies used the Snake Flag from 1776 to 1777. 

In late 1775, Continental Congress appointed a committee to consider a single Flag for the thirteen colonies.  A design of thirteen alternate stripes of red and white with an azure field in the upper corner contained the red cross of St. George and the white cross of St. Andres.  This  Flag  flew on John Paul Jones flag ship December 3, 1775.   One month later it was raised over the headquarters of General Washington at Cambridge, Massachusetts in complimenting the United Colonies.   This Flag, called The Continental Colors and The Grand Union, flown by the Navy was the first American Flag to receive a salute of honor by Fort of Orange in the Dutch West Indies.

It is generally believed  that in May or June 1776,  George Washington, Robert Morris and George Ross commissioned Betsy Ross, a Philadelphia Quaker, to make a flag from a rough design. 

July 4, 1776, the thirteen American colonies broke their political connection to the Kingdom of Great Britain by declaring independence. The Declaration of Independence was adopted by the Second Continental Congress at the Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia. The states became independent nations.

June 14,  1777,    Congress stated  “That the flag of the United States be thirteen  stripes of alternating red and white and the union be thirteen stars – white on a blue field” representing independent nations.

This Betsy Ross designed starry banner was flown near Rome, New York on August 3, 1777;  it was under fire three days later during a British and Indian attack.

The first official salute to the Stars and Stripes was made by France on February 14, 1778;  the “Ranger”, under command of John Paul Jones, was saluted  by the French fleet  on the French coast.   It is said this same Flag was  flown by Jones’ ship, the “Bon Homme Richard,” in its fight by moonlight upon the high seas with the British in 1779.

The original Stars and Stripes represented the original thirteen colonies.  In 1796, two additional Stars were added  for Vermont and Kentucky.  The War of 1812 was fought under this banner.  The site of it flying over Fort McHenry on September 14, 1814, inspired Francis Scott Key to write what became our national anthem  “The Star-Spangled Banner”.   

Congress adopted a resolution on July 4, 1818 that the number of stripes should be thirteen and a blue field should carry one star for each of the 20 states in the union; a new star would be added for each state admitted thereafter. 

The Flag  added 28 new stars before July 4, 1912.  This Flag of 48 stars flew over the nation for 47 years until just before the Vietnam War.   A star was added for Alaska, our first non-connected state on July 4, 1959;  a year later, Hawaii, our island state added the 50th star.

An Elk member shared respect for the flag proudly flown in Iwo Jima (World War II), Korea, Vietnam, and Gulf Wars,  Ground Zero-9/11/2001 and Iraq War.  This represents respect for our country and the pursuit of peace and justice for all.

Our Flag – 50 stars and 13 stripes – proudly represents our country.  It is at once a history, a declaration and a prophecy.  It represents the American nation at its birth; it speaks for what it is today and holds an opportunity for the future. 

The  July 4, 2025 local parade will feature the Elks Float providing over 15,000 flags to parade observers.

Lodge officers, Young Marines and Boy Scouts participated in honoring  the American Flag and its origins on this special occasion. 

​