It is said that Betsy Ross made the first American flag, stitching it carefully by hand. The colors represent red for valor, white for purity and blue for justice. The thirteen stripes represent the thirteen original colonies. The first flag had thirteen stars. The number of stars has been changed many times. In 1960 the American flag added its fiftieth star. The number of stars remains the same.

On June 14, 1777, Congress approved the first national flag. Since that time June 14 has been known as Flag Day. Americans are urged to display the flag on that day each year.