AmericanFlags.com Blog

Congress Should Pass The Genuine American Flag Act

2009-02-22T18:09:00.000-08:00

According to Census Bureau figures, about $5.3 million worth of U.S. flags were imported from China and other foreign countries during 2006, the last year for which complete data is available. Thankfully, some members of Congress want to change that.

Rep. Walter Jones (R-NC) and Rep. Dan Boren (D-OK) have introduced the Genuine American Flag Act, legislation that would prohibit foreign-made U.S. flags, regardless of size, from being imported for sale inside the United States.

"This legislation should be a no-brainer," Congressman Jones said. "Especially at a time when our nation's economy is hurting, it is just plain commonsense that the American flag - the symbol of our nation's strength and unity - should be manufactured here in the United States."

"Many Americans are unaware that the flags they proudly display this President's Day could actually be made in places like China," said Congressman Boren. "The most important symbol of the United States should be made by U.S. companies that employ hard-working U.S. citizens. It is imperative that we pass this legislation before foreign companies continue to gain a foothold in the manufacture of U.S. flags."

Amen to that.

Check out American-made US flags at AmericanFlags.com.

Pittsburgh Steelers Win Super Bowl!

2009-02-01T19:25:00.000-08:00

The Pittsburgh Steelers have won yet another Super Bowl and their 6 wins are now a league record! Hope you saw James Harrison's 100-yard return touchdown.

AmericanFlags.com is proudly to carry a huge selection of Pittsburgh Steelers flags and banners. You'll find Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowl Victory flags, Steelers house banners, NFL car flags and more!

Martin Luther King Jr. Day

2009-01-18T16:34:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow we observe Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday - a day set aside to honor the contributions of one of America's greatest leaders. Kings contributions will be evident and his dream fulfilled on Tuesday when Barack Obama is sworn in as America's 44th president.

We recently added two new products honoring Dr. King to our line-up. The first is a 28" X 40" Martin Luther King Banner and the second is a 3' X 5' Martin Luther King Flag. Both are made of heavy, durable nylon and are suitable for display anywhere.

These flags were created by Ross Flags and designed by Maria Landry Ross and her family, who have secured permission from the King estate to market this flag. The Ross family is also donating a portion of the proceeds to the King Center. Their motivation for designing and distributing these Martin Luther King banners comes from their quest to honor Dr. King's good work as well as a personal incident that changed their lives forever.

On the morning of June 19th 2000, Maria, her husband Dwayne, and their two young children awoke to find a seven-foot cross burning on their front lawn. The day, known as “Juneteenth”, is traditionally the day that African Americans celebrate their emancipation from slavery. In the wake of this horrific hate crime, Maria and Dwayne Ross recommitted themselves to keep fighting for the dream that Dr. King sparked in their hearts and minds. They've turned what could have been a day of tragedy and loss, into a life-affirming moment and new sense of purpose. We congratulate the Ross family on their resilience and activism.

Please honor Dr. King's memory and promote civil rights by purchasing a Martin Luther King flag today.

Honoring our new Commander-in-Chief

2008-11-15T11:02:00.000-08:00

H.A. Oakley, from Texas sent us this note:
"If you had not had Obama stuff on you website I was going to buy a flag from your company but I can see you are a left wing liberal company so I will not do business with you."

Here's our response:
Thanks for your note. We proudly carry memorabilia for both the Republican and Democratic parties. We’ve carried several items featuring President Bush and we now carry several items featuring our new Commander-in-Chief Barack Obama. You may have noticed that we carry several John McCain items; perhaps if folks with your mindset had bought more of them, the outcome of the election would have been different.

Having said that, we believe that Barack Obama's historic victory offers new hope for families, small businesses and charitable organizations that are fighting for their very survival during these trying fiscal times.

Jeffrey L. Reynolds, Ph.D.
President/CEO
AmericanFlags.com
phone 1.877.7OFFICE
fax: 631-724-1939
http://americanflags.com

Barack Obama Coins

2008-11-08T08:30:00.001-08:00

As we mark Barack Obama's historic Presidential victory, we are proud to feature two commemorative Barack Obama coin sets.

The first is a beautiful 24KT Gold-Plated 5-coin set commemorating the life of Barack Obama.

Order this Barack Obama coin set now while supplies last.

The second Barack Obama coin is a legal tender $1 coin, which comes in a beautiful case.

Click here to order this Barack Obama coin now!

Barack Obama Bobblehead In-Stock!!

2008-11-01T20:33:00.000-07:00

The Barack Obama Bobblehead has arrived at AmericanFlags.com. It sells on PoliticalWobbles.com for $79.99, but we are pleased to offer the very same Barack Obama bobblehead doll for just $24.00! You save $60 when you buy your Barack Obama bobblehead at AmericanFlags.com.

Buy your Barack Obama bobblehead doll today!

Long May She Wave: A Graphic History of the American Flag

2008-11-01T19:24:00.000-07:00

RENO, NV.- The Nevada Museum of Art will examine the design of the American flag in the exhibition Long May She Wave: A Graphic History of the American Flag. From Civil War-era flags and Native American moccasins to political campaign buttons and heirloom quilts, Long May She Wave: A Graphic History of the American Flag assembles thousands of American flag-related objects and artifacts from the private collection of Kit Hinrichs, one of the world’s leading graphic designers and a partner in the international design firm, Pentagram. Long May She Wave: A Graphic History of the American Flag is scheduled for exhibition from October 25, 2008 through February 22, 2009 and is planned to coincide with the 2008 United States presidential election.

One of the most recognizable icons in the world today, the American flag has enjoyed a long history of graphic renderings and artistic re-interpretations. Although the Continental Congress agreed in 1777 that the United States flag should be comprised of stars and stripes in red, white, and blue, more than a century passed without formal design regulations—yielding a wealth of exuberant and unbridled creative manifestations of the national banner. Far from being a static symbol, the flag has been the subject of countless graphic interpretations over its 224-year history, each version owing more to the personality of the maker than to established formal conventions.

Nowhere are these continual changes better examined than in the collection amassed by graphic designer Kit Hinrichs. In this unique collection, “the flag is presented in an extraordinary array of celebratory, ceremonial, political, commercial, and artistic settings,” according to Gerard C. Wertkin, Director of the American Folk Art Museum.

Themes examined in the exhibition include: the flag in celebration, featuring items such as decorative ornaments, home items, and sports memorabilia; the flag in commerce, as seen on magazine covers, product packaging and advertisements; the flag in art and folk art, with crocheted flags, quilts and artists’ renderings; the flag at play, with wooden blocks, parade parasols, party horns, and various toys; the flag in politics and protest, with posters, buttons and miscellaneous campaign collateral; the flag in Native American art, with woven blankets, beaded coin purses, gloves, and moccasins; and the flag at war, with battle-flown flags from the Civil War and Korean Conflict, as well as war medals and memorabilia ranging from pennants to whiskey flasks.

Kit Hinrichs’ collection of American flags and stars and stripes memorabilia totals nearly 5,000 objects. Hinrichs is co-author of several books, including Stars and Stripes, Vegetables and Typewise. His work has been exhibited internationally and is in the permanent collections of the Museums of Modern Art in New York and San Francisco.

Major sponsorship for this exhibition is provided by Employers Holdings, Inc. Additional support provided by American Family Insurance, AT&T Nevada, Gabelli Funds, Inc., and Jim and Karlene Webster, together with the Nevada Arts Council, a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs, and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency. Media sponsor is KOLO 8 News Now.

Long May She Wave: A Graphic History of the American Flag will be on exhibit October 25, 2008 through February 22, 2009 at the Nevada Museum of Art, Donald W. Reynolds Center for the Visual Arts, E. L. Wiegand Gallery located at 160 West Liberty Street in downtown Reno. The galleries are open Tuesday through museum members; $10 adults, $8 students/seniors. Call 775.329.3333 or visit http://www.nevadaart.org for more info.

Students Protest Tattered Flag At Ohio HS

2008-11-01T19:15:00.000-07:00

Two Ohio high school students are facing suspension for chaining themelves to the flagpole at Warren High School in Vincent, OH to protest the school's failure to replace its faded and tattered American flag. Robert and Kenneth Grady face a 10-day suspension, though the school principal says that he's ordered a new flag which is scheduled to arrive on Monday.

Joe the Plumber endorses...AmericanFlags.com

2008-10-18T05:32:00.000-07:00

By know, you've all heard about "Joe the Plumber" who became the dominant figure in Wednesday's Presidential debate held in Hempstead, NY. John McCain talked about how Joe might fare under Barack Obama's tax plan and more than a third of the debate centered on Joe the Plumber from Texas. Joe's been flung into stardom and with several major TV appearances scheduled for this weekend, he's made his endorsement: AmericanFlags.com!

Check out Joe the Plumber's website!

Warren Buffet says "Buy American"

2008-10-18T05:24:00.000-07:00

The Oracle of Omaha Warren Buffet penned a New York Times op-ed yesterday urging intelligent investments in American businesses. We here at AmericanFlags.com think Buffet's onto something. As you think about your holiday shopping - as scaled-down as it might be this year - please try your best to buy American-made products. You'll get great value and will be doing your part to get the US economy back on track.

American flags made in China?!?

2008-10-15T19:11:00.000-07:00

One of Barack Obama's new television ads, run heavily in North Carolina discusses outsourcing and includes this sentence: "Workers once proud to make their thread for American flags have their futures outsourced to Asia." Amen.

Still, there are flag retailers online peddling American Flags made in China and memorial flag cases made in Vietnam. That's horrific for so many reasons.

American-made flags are made better made, last longer and are sewn by hard-working American workers with American pride. When you purchase an American flag, make sure it's MADE IN AMERICA!

AmericanFlags.com sells only American-Made US flags!

Fallen Firefighters

2008-10-05T18:53:00.001-07:00

Did you lower you flags today in honor of fallen fighters? On October 16, 2001, President Bush signed legislation requiring the American flag to be lowered to half-staff on all Federal buildings to memorialize fallen firefighters. Public Law 107-51 requires this action to occur annually in conjunction with observance of the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service, which happened today. Flags were lowered at the U.S. Capitol and the White House, and hopefully at buildings and homes in your local community.

Please join AmericanFlags.com in honoring those brave men and women who died as they protected and served others and in thanking those who answer the call each and every day.

New Postage Stamp Features Kansas Flag

2008-09-16T19:05:00.000-07:00

Kansas residents and fans now have a first-class way to show state pride. “I urge all Kansans to take a little time from e-mail and text messaging to take time to write a personal letter and use a stamp with a little history of Kansas,” Gov. Kathleen Sebelius said Monday, unveiling a brand new postage stamp featuring the Kansas state flag with a farm scene in the background.

The Kansas flag postage stamp is part of the “Flags of Our Nation” series, which will include the flags of all 50 states, five territories and the District of Columbia.

The 60-stamp series is being released in alphabetical order over course of the next three years. Kansas is in the second set of 10. The first set featured Alabama through Delaware.

Philatelists can get a special “Kansas Flags of Our Nation” postmark at the Topeka Main Post Office or by mail by sending a self addressed, stamped envelope in a larger envelope addressed to "Flags of Our Nation Postmark," 424 S. Kansas Ave. Topeka, KS 66603-9998. Requests must be postmarked by Oct. 15.

Here's some background on the Kansas State Flag from the Kansas State Historical Society:
Prior to assuming the governorship in 1915, Arthur Capper expressed an interest in adopting a state flag for Kansas. The Daughters of the American Revolution sponsored a contest for a flag design that would "express the spirit of Kansas." The winner, Lawrence artist Esther Estelle Northrup, suggested a flag with three broad stripes--the top one red, the middle one white, and the lower one blue. In the upper left was a gold sunflower on a blue background with the state seal in its center. This design was submitted to the state legislature in, 1917, but was not accepted.

Leading opposition to a state flag were the Native Daughters of Kansas and the Grand Army of the Republic. Both groups felt that the national ensign, "Old Glory," was good enough for the state. Patriotic interests remained in conflict and Kansas continued to be one of the few states without its own flag.

Though numerous designs for a state flag were submitted to the legislature in the ensuing years, not until 1925 was a state banner adopted. Designed to be hung from a horizontal bar, the banner contained familiar elements-the state seal framed in a sunflower centered in a blue field.

State Adjutant General Milton R. McLean found the new banner to be an unacceptable substitute for a state flag. Not only was it impossible to march with, but the banner was also rejected for display with the flags of other states in Washington. Consequently, on March 21st, 1927, an act was signed "designating the form and color" of an official state flag. Basic elements of the design were the state seal centered in a field of blue. Above the seal was the generally unknown state crest--an insignia designated by the U.S. war department in 1923 and consisting of a sunflower beneath which was a bar or wreath meant to symbolize the Louisiana Purchase. Legislation in 1961 added the word "Kansas" to the bottom of the flag and required its display in schools of the state.

The Kansas flag was quickly embraced by residents and patriotic organizations alike. Mrs. O.C. Emery of Wichita has attributed meaning to elements of the flag which may not have originally been intended but which reflect the patriotic spirit the flag elicits. She wrote that "its blue stands for the loyalty and steadfastness of the people of Kansas. The azure, pink and yellow of the seal symbolizes our cosmopolitanism and the melting pot of statehood which has from the contributions of many lands and commonwealths produced a contented, harmonious citizenry, while the open frankness of its sunflower face is indicative of the fearlessness with which Kansas meets her problems and solves them."

Buy Kansas State Flags at AmericanFlags.com.

Talking Trash about the American Flag

2008-09-06T09:32:00.000-07:00

The Denver Post reported today that Democrats had trashed more than 12,000 American flags in the wake of last week's Democratic National Convention and that the flags had been "rescued" by GOP staffers. The story originated with Fox News, who has since issued a retraction.

DNC spokeswoman Karen Finney issues a statement: "American flags were proudly waved by the 75,000 people who joined Barack Obama at the Democratic Convention. John McCain should applaud that, but instead his supporters wrongfully took leftover bundles of our flags from the stadium to play a cheap political stunt calling into question our patriotism. On the same day he agrees to join Barack Obama at Ground Zero on September 11, John McCain attacks the patriotism of Obama supporters who so proudly waved the American flag at our historic event in Denver just days ago."

Another statement from the Democratic National Convention Committee: "Stories circulating about flags at the Democratic National Convention are false. We distributed more than 125,000 American made flags at the Convention - the flags removed from Invesco field were intended for other events and taken without permission. It's disappointing that someone would take American flags without authorization and then falsely describe how they were being used. We have the utmost respect for the American flag, and it's sad to see them being used for a cheap political stunt."

National Days of Prayer and Remembrance, 2008

2008-09-02T19:12:00.000-07:00

President Bush has issued the following proclamation in honor of 9/11....

During National Days of Prayer and Remembrance, we pay special tribute to the thousands of innocent victims who died on September 11, 2001. Our Nation honors the brave citizens, service members, police officers, and firefighters who heroically responded in the face of terror. On these important days, we reflect on the terrible events of September 11, 2001, and lift the victims and their families in our prayers.

Our Nation will never forget the individuals who lost their lives in New York, Pennsylvania, and at the Pentagon. America remains inspired by the countless acts of kindness and sacrifice we saw that day -- fearless rescuers who rushed toward danger, a beloved priest who died helping others, two office workers who carried a disabled person 68 floors to safety.

We also pray for the safety and success of the members of our Armed Forces now serving freedom's cause. We seek God's grace on their families, and commit to Heaven's care those brave men and women He has called home. We ask the Almighty to watch over America and pray for His providence and continued blessings on our country. May He always guide the United States of America. As we defend our country against its enemies, we pray for help in protecting the gift of freedom from those who seek to destroy it, and we ask the Almighty to strengthen all those securing liberty on distant shores.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim Friday, September 5, through Sunday, September 7, 2008, as National Days of Prayer and Remembrance. I ask that the people of the United States and their places of worship mark these National Days of Prayer and Remembrance with memorial services, the ringing of bells, and evening candlelight remembrance vigils. I also invite all people across the world to share in these Days of Prayer and Remembrance.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-eighth day of August, in the year of our Lord two thousand eight, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-third.

GEORGE W. BUSH

AmericanFlags.com Urges All Americans to Fly an American Flag on 9/11

2008-09-02T19:09:00.000-07:00

As the anniversary of 9/11 draws near, AmericanFlags.com is leading a campaign to encourage every American to fly a US flag on September 11, 2008. As such, AmericanFlags.com is offering deep discounts and free shipping on American flags of all sizes.

"In the days, weeks and months following 9/11, America was bathed in US flags and our country was united in national pride," said AmericanFlags.com President/CEO Jeffrey Reynolds. "Over time, those flags became worn, tattered and torn before disappearing altogether. As we mark this important anniversary and reflect back on that horrific day, our American flags should once again fly high on every home, school and business," he added.

September 11th has been officially designated "Patriot Day" and US flags should be flown at half staff in memory of the thousands of Americans who lost their lives on that day in 2001. A moment of silence is also typically observed beginning at 8:46 A.M. (Eastern Daylight Time), marking the first plane crash on that infamous day.

AmericanFlags.com is one of the world's largest retailers of American-made flags, featuring indoor and outdoor US flags of all sizes, handheld flags, residential flag kits, historic flags, military flags and a wide variety of patriotic products. In addition to the web's largest selection of US flags, AmericanFlags.com also features a beautiful limited-edition 9/11 Remembrance Flag to be flown on Patriot Day and year-round.

AmericanFlags.com at Democratic National Convention

2008-08-29T07:27:00.000-07:00

If you watched the Democratic National Convention, chances are you saw our flags! AmericanFlags.com is a proud supplier of American flags to the DNC and several state/local Democratic organizations. We feature only American-Made US flags because we believe that American flags should be made in America. American-made flags are also of a better quality that imported flags - they look better and last longer. AmericanFlags.com congratulates Barack Obama and Joe Biden on their respective nominations; if you're a Barack Obama supporter, be sure to check out our wide selection of Barack Obama car flags and Democratic banners.

We look forward to the start of the Republican National Convention next week!

Vintage American flags on Ebay

2008-08-23T05:03:00.000-07:00

A Connecticut vintage American flag seller has been tossed off of auction site eBay because he refused to sell his flags to countries and individuals hostile to the ideals of the United States. Mark Albino, the owner of C&M Antiques and Collectibles included the following in al his auction postings: "Please note that this flag is not for sale to anyone residing in any country in the Middle East, France, and the state of California (unless you can show proof of serving in the U.S. military) or to any person in any country not allied to the USA. I reserve the right not to sell this flag to anyone I deem may be disrespectful to it. God bless America and its true allies." Albino is a Navy vet and picks up vintage American flags in estate sales, in turn peddling them for up to $500 as an eBay Powerseller. eBay says that sellers can chose whether or not to sell goods internationally as a whole, but cannot exclude particular countries.

While AmericanFlags.com doesn't sell vintage flags, please be sure to check out our wide selection of historic flags.

Today's American flag news

2008-08-22T18:34:00.000-07:00

In Wichita, Kansas, the mother of a Wichita soldier killed in Iraq says someone burned the American flag she flies in her front yard in honor of him. As police investigate the crime, an active duty soldier who heard the news brought Janet March a new American flag.

A former Idaho high school teacher charged with desecrating an American flag will no longer be going to trial. The teacher - Dan Luker - was sschduled to start his trial today but the judge dismissed the misdemeanor charge of public desecration of a U.S. flag. Full story is here.

Rhodes Ranch resident Rebecca Cailor has been told by her local homeowner's association to remove a flagpole and American flag her husband installed more than two years ago. She's offended as her husband served in Vietnam, his father served in World War II, and their son is on active duty in the army. "I feel that I have earned - and my family has earned - the right to fly the American flag in our own home," Rebecca told local tv station News 3. Problem is she lives in a gated community and must abide by the homeowner's association rules which prohibit flagpoles. She's appealed their demand and we join her in hoping for the best. Story is here.

Baseball and American Pie

2008-08-10T07:43:00.000-07:00

Baseball is the great American pastime and AmericanFlags.com proudly features MLB-licensed baseball flags that are MADE IN AMERICA. Forget the knock-offs made in China. Instead, buy a good quality flag at a fair price made with American materials and American hands! Baseball is a great family activity and there's nothing better than showing your team pride with a great flag, garden banner or car flag. Check out our Baseball flags and banners now.

Right now, our most popular baseball flags are as follows:

NY Yankees flags
Chicago White Sox flags
Boston White Sox flags
Texas Rangers flags

Show your team pride with sports flags from AmericanFlags.com!

US Flag Goof on Postage Stamps

2008-08-09T06:40:00.000-07:00

Do you see anything wrong with the stamp in the lower right corner?

A recently released 42-cent stamp featuring the American flag against an evening sky appears to have 14 stripes -- one too many

The flag stamp was released by the U.S. Postal Service earlier this year as part of a series of four stamps painted by Maryland artist Laura Stutzman depicting Old Glory at sunrise, noon, sunset and night.

As stamp collector Tony Servies notes in his blog StampsofDistinction.com for the last 190 years, the flag has always consisted of 13 red and white stripes in a specific pattern. There are 7 red stripes and 6 white stripes, with red stripes at the top and bottom of each flag.

Servies concludes that this partially blocked flag, which has a white stripe at the bottom, has at minimum 14 stripes and potentially 15 if the traditional pattern was maintained.

A spokesman for the U.S. Postal Service has been quoted by Fox News as saying, "It’s been noticed." A total of 3.75 billion stamps in the series have been printed to date. Fox quotes David E. Failor, a manager of Stamp Services for USPS, as saying the extra stripe came from a design flaw. A white line, he says, was added to provide definition to the flag and was not part of the original artwork.

"Normally we would send the change back through our fact-checking process," he is quoted as saying. "In the case of this change we didn't do that so the mistake was not recognized. It was brought to our attention after the stamps were issued."

WestWing.com joins the AmericanFlags.com Family

2008-08-06T05:44:00.001-07:00

Our family is growing! We added WholesaleFlags.com to our family last month and this month are proud to announce that we have acquired WestWing.com!

WestWing.com brings the White House to your house with a large selection of unique gifts, presidential memorabilia, keepsakes and Washington DC souvenirs. Celebrate the American Presidency and the majesty of Washington DC with commemorative White House apparel, presidential jewelry, Christmas ornaments, Easter Eggs, glassware, artwork and more. Weigh-in on this November's Presidential election or get a jump on your holiday shopping at WestWing.com!

Our expansion means a wider selection of products for you and better pricing as enhance our capacity. This has been a monumental year of growth for us and are truly excited about the prospects that lie ahead!

National Museum of American History Will Open Nov. 21

2008-07-30T19:27:00.000-07:00

The Smithsonian's National Museum of American History will open its doors to the public Friday, Nov. 21, providing a new look at the almost 200-year-old Star-Spangled Banner and a rare chance to see the White House copy of President Lincoln's Gettysburg Address. The reopening will mark the completion of a two-year, $85 million renovation of the building's center core, dramatically transforming the museum's architectural appeal while reorganizing and renewing the presentation of its extensive collections.

Visitors will enter a dramatic five-story sky-lit atrium, surrounded by artifact displays filled with more than 400 objects showcasing the breadth and depth of the museum's three million objects representing the cultural, social, technological and political history of the United States. An architectural representation of a waving flag -- 960 reflective tiles made of polycarbonate material -- frames the entrance to the Star-Spangled Banner gallery. The gallery itself is a climate-controlled state-of-the-art chamber designed to evoke the "dawn's early light." An exhibition that includes multimedia displays and historic objects will tell the story of the flag and the National Anthem.

"For people of all ages, a visit to the National Museum of American History can be a defining event--providing a deep and fundamental understanding of what it has meant to be an American," said Brent D. Glass, director of the museum. "Millions of visitors will enjoy new opportunities to explore the American narrative and the core stories of our national experience in an inspiring and memorable setting."

The renovation project focused on three areas: architectural enhancements to the center core, including a grand staircase and a skylight; construction of a new Star-Spangled Banner gallery and updates to the 44-year-old building's infrastructure. Architectural firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP of New York designed the project and Turner Construction Company is responsible for the overall construction. New York design firms Chermayeff & Geismar Studio and C&G Partners are working with Skidmore, Owings & Merrill on the new gallery for the Star-Spangled Banner.

The Star-Spangled Banner
The Star-Spangled Banner will return to the heart of the museum in a dramatic new display that provides a contemplative setting for visitors. A 40 by 19 foot abstract representation of the flag will soar above the entrance and will be a focal point of the second floor. The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation generously provided $2.5 million for its construction.

A special enclosure, fronted by a 45-foot-long floor-to-ceiling glass wall, will protect the fragile wool and cotton flag while providing maximum visibility to visitors. The chamber's lighting, mechanical, security and fire prevention systems, as well as the table upon which the flag rests and the new gantry (movable bridge) that museum staff will use to inspect the flag, are designed to work together to ensure the long-term care of the flag. All support structures and mechanisms will be hidden from public view and the flag will appear to be floating.

The 30-by-34-foot banner will be displayed at a horizontal orientation according to U.S. flag code and, in order to reduce stress to the textile, at a 10-degree angle of elevation. Low light levels will protect the flag yet are dramatic enough to evoke an atmosphere of the "dawn's early light," similar to what Francis Scott Key experienced on Sept. 14, 1814, when he penned his poem that became the national anthem in 1931. The room has separate environmental systems maintaining a constant temperature of 68 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit and relative humidity of 50 percent.

The first stanza of Key's poem will be projected prominently on the wall above and behind the Star-Spangled Banner. An interactive image of the flag will provide additional information.

The Star-Spangled Banner Preservation Project is made possible by major support from Polo Ralph Lauren. Generous support is provided by The Pew Charitable Trusts, the U.S. Congress, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and the American Express Historic Preservation Fund. The conservation project is part of Save America's Treasures, a public-private project of the White House Millennium Council and the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

The History Channel, a donor through financial contributions and in-kind gifts, will release a new one-hour special touching on the flag's colorful history, including the specialized conservation treatment undertaken by the museum and the new high-tech flag chamber. A part of the channel's "Save Our History" series, the documentary will air in November.

The Gettysburg Address
Lincoln's short address at the Gettysburg, Pa. cemetery on Nov. 19, 1863, became one of the most eloquent speeches in American history. The manuscript that will be on view in the museum's new Albert H. Small Documents Gallery is one of five drafts, the last known to have been written in Lincoln's hand. Penned in March 1864 for an anthology to raise funds for the Union, it was kept by one of the book's publishers, Alexander Bliss, and was auctioned in 1949. Oscar Cintas, a former Cuban ambassador, purchased it and on his death in 1957, he asked that it be placed in the White House collection. There, the document is displayed in the Lincoln Bedroom, in the private quarters not open for public tours. Mrs. Laura Bush approved the loan of this copy of the Gettysburg Address to the museum for display from November 21 to January 4, 2009.

Renovation
The renovation is made possible through a public-private partnership with $46 million in federal funds and the remaining $39 million from individuals, foundations and corporations. The museum's $80 million dollar donor, Kenneth E. Behring, has contributed $16 million to the project.

The Nina and Ivan Selin Welcome Center on the second floor will help orient visitors as will six landmark objects located in the wings of each of the three exhibit floors. For example, the Vassar College telescope, circa 1865, and used by the first American female astronomer, will be on the west wing of the first floor, representing science and technology. That wing includes the Lemelson Hall of Invention and Spark!Lab, a hands-on science and invention center.

The renovation also includes the Samuel J. and Ethel LeFrak Lobby for the 275-seat Carmichael Auditorium, new elevators and restroom facilities, food and retail operations. The Constitution Cafe will face Constitution Avenue on the first floor and offer sandwiches, soups, salads and desserts while the lower level 600-seat Stars and Stripes Cafe will serve American fare.

Throughout its reopening year, the museum will present new exhibits and programs with one highlight being the 8,000-square-foot exhibition, "On the Water: Stories from Maritime America" which opens in spring 2009. The Susan and Elihu Rose Gallery, also opening in 2009, will feature changing exhibitions. Programming will take center stage with visitors able to encounter historic characters every weekend and on federal holidays as well as tours, theater and popular song programs. A list of 2008-2009 exhibitions and programs will be available in October.

Visitors may explore virtual exhibitions, collections and find updates via the museum's Web site: americanhistory.si.edu. The public may also subscribe to a monthly electronic newsletter for re-opening updates and upcoming exhibitions.

The National Museum of American History documents the American experience from Colonial times to the present. For more information call Smithsonian Information at (202) 633-1000, (202) 633-5285 (TTY).

SOURCE Smithsonian's National Museum of American History

US Flag Saves Girl's Life

2008-07-30T19:22:00.000-07:00

A lost 12-year-old girl found a vacant cabin in the Blue Mountains and wrapped herself in an American flag to stay warm until searchers located her. Trisha Patterson of Camas was found this morning about 10 miles east of Walla Walla.

Future American Flag?

2008-07-15T18:10:00.000-07:00

Did you know....
that the United States Army Institute of Heraldry has plans for American flags with up to 56 stars, using a similar staggered star arrangement should we gain additional states. There are, of course, political movements supporting statehood in Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia and Long Island among other areas.

Proposed design for 51-Star American Flag:

Alternate design for 51-Star American Flag: