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Show MANY FORKS OF EARLY FLAGS Various Types Were Used Ecfora tho Present Form of Old Glory was Adopted. According to the Smithsonian Institution Insti-tution there were many forms of early . flags, especially colonial types, used by the individual colonies and militia regiments, before the flag of the United Uni-ted States was established by the continental con-tinental congress June 14, 1777, the anniversary of which date Is now celebrated cel-ebrated as flag day. This act required that the flag of the United States be of 13 horizontal stripes, alternate red and white, and that Ihe union be 13 white stars on a blue field, representing represent-ing a new constellation. One of the first occasions for public pub-lic display of the Stars and Stripes Is said to have been August 6, 1777, when the new flag was hoisted over the troops at Fort Schuyler, Rome, N. Y. John Paul Jones Is said to have been the first to fly the Sfftra and Stripes over the high seas on the Ranger In November, 1777. From the time of the Revolution the Stars and Stripes In the flag have varied. va-ried. There were 13 stars during the . Revolution, ID in the war of 1612, 20 in the Mexican war, 33 to 35 in the Civil war, 45 in the Spanish war and 48 today. The stripes were changed first from 13 to 15 and then back again to 13. Our national flag la among the oldest flags of the nations, being older than the present British Jack, the French tricolor and the flag of Spain. |