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Resolved that the flag of the thirteen states to be
thirteen stripes alternate red and white, that the union be thirteen
stars, white on a blue field, representing a new constellation.” With
these simple words Congress created the American Flag on June 14, 1777.The
stripes came from the field of the Grand Union Flag and were presumably
taken from the Washington coat of arms. It is probable that the stars were
also taken from that emblem, and changed to white for color harmony. It is
generally conceded that General Washington had a hand in designing this
flag and it is fair to assume that the idea of the stars originated with
him. The first Stars and Stripes displayed in the face of an armed enemy
was at Fort Stanwix, August 3, 1777. The Flag was improvised. The white
stripes and stars came from the soldier’s shirts; a captain’s cloak
supplied the blue of the union; and the red stripes came from the flannel
petticoats of the women of the garrison, who gladly donated them for the
purpose.
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