American Flag Facts
By SharLeigh

The Fourth of July heralds in picnics, fireworks and plenty of flag waving! But how well do you know about “Old Glory”? See if you know the answers to these questions.

Q: Our flag displays the colors of red, white and blue. What do the colors stand for?
A: Red for valor and hardiness; white for purity and innocence; blue for vigilance, perseverance and justice.

Q: Which foreign country did the American Flag first fly over?
A: Fort Derne, Libya on the shores of Tripoli.

Q: If you see a flag flying upside down what does it signify?
A: Help me - I am in trouble.

Q: Why was Robert Peary honored for cutting the American Flag into pieces?
A: He left pieces of the flag scattered at the North Pole.

Q: Francis Scott Keyes wrote the lyrics to the Star Spangled Banner. Where was the music derived from?
A: An old English drinking song called “To Anacreon in Heaven”.

Q: When is the American Flag flown over the White House?
A: Only when the President is in Washington DC.

Q: How does one fold the flag?
A: The Flag Code does not require any specific method but over time a tradition has developed that produces a triangular shaped form like that of a three-corner hat with only the blue union showing.

Q: May persons other than veterans have their casket draped with the Flag of the United States?
A: Yes. Anyone may have his or her casket draped with an American Flag.

Q: What is meant by the flag’s own right?
A: The warrior’s right hand signified the weapon hand or point of danger. The right hand, raised without a weapon, was the sign of peace. The right hand to the observer is the observer’s left. Therefore the flag’s blue field is displayed to the left of the observer. This is the flag’s “own right”.