American Flag: More than Cloth

Three colors set on cloth with specific dimensions in a precise design symbolize a variety of notions and ideologies when it comes to the flag of the United States.

It flies atop poles, is incorporated into clothing designs, sticks to car bumpers, and is used to signal allegiance. But the American flag is storied cloth, as a small crowd at Yelm City Park learned on Wednesday, September 9, during the “Stars and Stripes Revolutionary Road” event.

Dressed as a standard officer, Arthur Dolan, a direct descendent of folks who participated in the rebellion against monarchy and is a current member of the Sons of the American Revolution, kept a small crowd riveted during his presentation about the flag.

With the pedigree to back him up, Dolan first discussed the evolution of the British flag from the simple Cross of St. George to the current flag, which is an embodiment of the flags of all the countries in the United Kingdom.

As he moved through the history of the American Revolution — from the meetings of the first Continental Congress, the signing of the Declaration of Independence and how the flag design continued to change until Betsy Ross was commissioned to make the flag — Dolan was quick with names, dates and fun, little known facts.

His family goes back to Fitch Tavern, one of the oldest buildings in Bedford, Mass. It was a central meeting place for local minute men on the first day of the Revolutionary War. His wife’s family hails from the Monroe family who owned the  famous Monroe Tavern in Lexington, Mass., once used as a hospital for British troops.

As he related the story of the flag, he provided insight into some of the revolution’s key players and illuminating facts:

Martha Washington funded the first ships for the Continental Navy because her first husband, who was rich, had died. George was not rich, so he asked Martha to help.

The Don’t Tread on Me flag, also known as the Gadsden Flag, was colored yellow and flown on the Navy’s ships. Its color was chosen because it meant plague and disease and kept the enemy away. It also didn’t include an apostrophe because those types of grammar rules didn’t exist back then.

The United States Olympic and Paralympic teams use a rendition of the flag with only thirteen five-pointed stars above the Olympic rings.

In all, Dolan used 20 different flags in his presentation. The current configuration of the flag with 13 stripes for the original colonies came about because after trying to add a stripe for each new state, it was determined that the potential for so many more stripes could detract from the flag’s overall design.

The red stripes on top and bottom adhere to British rules for heraldry, but the five-pointed star veers away from those rules for ease of manufacture and cost considerations and was the suggestion of Betsy Ross.

The flag with 43 stars was not sanctioned when Idaho became a state late in 1889, so anyone who owns an original of that particular flag has a collector item on their hands.

Dolan’s presentation is riveting, entertaining and an assemblage of facts unrivaled anywhere on the Internet. It is no surprise to learn he spent time in a classroom. He said no commissioned flag has ever been decommissioned so it is appropriate to fly any commissioned flag.

For information about care, handling and respect for the flag, visit nationalflagfoundation.org.

The U.S. flag was officially established June 14, 1777. June 14 is officially Flag Day on the calendar. The current 50-star design was adopted July 4, 1960.

The Sons of the American Revolution, formally the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, is a federally chartered, lineage-based membership organization for men who can document direct descent from a patriot of the American Revolution. Founded in 1889 at Fraunces Tavern in New York City, the Society promotes the study and interpretation of the Revolutionary era, supports educational and civic programs related to American independence, and encourages public engagement with the nation’s founding principles.