|
On June 14, 1777 the Second Continental Congress passed a resolution stating: “Resolved, That the flag of the United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new Constellation.”
That new constellation, of course, consisted of the 13 original colonies that were fighting for our independence at the time. George Washington is credited with saying, “We take the stars from Heaven, the red from our mother country, separating it by white stripes, thus showing that we have separated from her, and the white stripes shall go down to posterity representing Liberty.”
In our history there have been 27 different versions of the flag. The current design with 50 stars has not changed since July 4, 1960 – tying the record for the longest period that the flag has gone unchanged.
I support a constitutional amendment to prohibit desecration of the flag. Old Glory was meant to be flown proudly, not burned.
Burning the flag is a slap in the face to all that it stands for and to all those who defended it. In order to become law it needs to pass the Congress by a two-thirds vote and then be ratified by three-fourths of the states.
This flag day, I hope that you will take a moment and honor it. For 230 years it has flown over the land of the free and the home of the brave. We should treat it with the honor and respect it has earned.
# # #
|
