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Show MANY FORMS OF EARLY FLAGS Various Types Were Used Before the Present Form of Old Glory was Adopted. According to the Smithsonian institution insti-tution there were many forms of early flags, especially colonial types, usexl by the Individual colonies and militia regiments, before the flag of the Unl- , 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 tlie 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 S;rs 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 1 Revolution, 15 in the war of lSl'J. 29 in the Mexican war, 33 to 35 in the Civil war, 45 in the Spanish war and 4S today. The stripes were changed first from 13 to 15 and then back again to 13. Our national flag is among the oldest flags of the nations, being older than the present British Jack, the French tricolor and the flag of Spain. |