When the War of 1812 began, Lady Columbia was sometimes joined on posters by a new figure, Uncle Sam; both offered a fierce embodiment of American independence. In the decades before the Civil War ...

In the vacuum of prescribed meaning, Americans have imbued the flag with their own: sacrifice, freedom, patriotism, nationalism, pride, disappointment and hope.

The current iteration of the American flag, with its 50 stars and 13 stripes, has been around since July 4, 1960, about a year after Hawaii became the 50th state in August 1959.

Flying the American flag upside down violates the U.S. flag code, a sweeping set of guidelines that dictates the appearance and display of the U.S. flag by private citizens.

(U.S. Army/Sgt. Amanda Hunt) 3. Salute the American flag during the Pledge of Allegiance. According to the U.S. Flag Code, 4 U.S. Code § 4, Persons in uniform “should remain silent, face the ...