A Brief History Of ‘Old Glory”

Betsy Ross is widely credited with sewing the first American Flag. Most people don't know she wasn't a seamstress. She was an upholsterer by trade.  Congress adopted the Stars & Stripes on June 14th, 1777.

Ms. Ross married her second husband the following day. Her first husband died during the Revolutionary War. She would marry three times. There have been 26 editions of the American Flag since its adoption.  Francis Scott Key's "Star Spangled Banner" was written about a 15 star, 15 stripe edition of the flag, flying over Fort McHenry in Baltimore.  There were no uniform specifications for the flag's design until President Taft issued an executive order in 1912. The current version of  "Old Glory" has been in use since 1960. One year ago, President Obama directed  the celebration of Flag Day be expanded to a full week.