The Thirteen Stripes Of Independence And Hope

National flags (or any other flags, for that matter) are conceptualized and eventually

created not just for the sake of having something soar in the air. Nor were they made because different countries or organizations want to jump on the bandwagon of having their own flags. Flags serve as an organization's representation. For example, one flag may be designed in a certain manner to symbolize a country's history or manner of living. Given this justification of a flag's importance, you may be wondering about the meaning behind the thirteen stripes used in the flags of the United States of America. Why did they opt for thirteen stripes and not twenty?

The thirteen red and white stripes in the US flag, which Americans fondly call the Stars and Stripes, symbolize the original thirteen colonies of the United States. The so-called Thirteen Colonies include the following states: Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Hampshire, New York, Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. These colonies were part of Great Britain until they rebelled in 1775 and became the pioneer US states.

It was in January 1, 1776 that the Grand Union flag with the design of thirteen stripes was raised in Prospect Hill. But unknown to many is the fact that there has been an act passed in 1794 which changed the number of stripes from thirteen to fifteen. The US flag design has been changed for several more times before it became what it is now.

Of equal importance as the flag's stripes is the rest of the flag details. The part of the flag with a blue rectangle has fifty stars representing the fifty US states. The colors red, white, and blue stand for valor, purity, and perseverance and justice, respectively. Also worth noting is the equality of stripe size which symbolizes the equal footing among the first states.

As was said before, flags are more than mere decors. They can represent a country, symbolize its history, or even unify its people. The flag of the United States of America being a symbol of the country's liberty could also serve as a motivation and inspiration in times of difficulty. In face of such adversities, Americans could look at the flag and remember that the thirteen states managed to survive and start anew. And in this sense, the US flag could always serve as a sign of freedom, pride, and hope.

by: Brian Jones

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