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Show Old American FUg In 1775 a committee, under Benjamin Benja-min Frnnklln as chairman, designed the first flag of the United Colonies. This Is Bald to have been the first official offi-cial flag, and was hoisted by Washington Wash-ington over his camp in Cambridge nnd by CiipL John Paul Jones over his fleet curly In 177C. It had 13 red and white, stripes, representing the 13 United Colonies, with the king's colors, the crosses of SL George and St. Andrew, In the blue cunton. The pnence of these crosses In the blue field meant that the Colonists were fighting Tor ihelr rights as Englishmen. English-men. It has hocn called a "flag not of separation lint of protest" In those days It wus often designated us the congress colors, or t tie Cambridge Cam-bridge flag, and was officially known us the Grand Union fl"r., und Is said to hove been designed by Washington. |