Long May She Wave
Think you know just about everything you can about the American flag? Maybe not. In honor of Independence Day, we offer here five little-known facts about Old Glory:
#1. There’s virtually no evidence that Betsy Ross designed the first American flag.
In 1776, Ross was employed as a seamstress, sewing flags for the Pennsylvania navy. 
According to legend, she convinced George Washington to change the U.S. flag design to include five-pointed stars instead of six-pointed ones, by demonstrating to him that a five-pointed star would be much easier and faster to cut.
However, there is no archival evidence or recorded verbal tradition to substantiate this story. In fact, it seems the tale first surfaced in the writings of Ross’ grandson — 100 years after the fact.
#2. Five of the six U.S. flags planted on the moon are still standing.
Each of the six manned Apollo space flights that landed on the moon planted an American flag on the lunar surface. Until recently, most scientists assumed the nylon flags (which cost NASA $5.50 each) had not survived the moon’s harsh conditions.
But photos captured by NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera (LROC) have confirmed that five of them are still flying. All except the one placed by the Apollo 11 crew. (According to astronaut Buzz Aldrin, that flag was blown over by exhaust from the ascent engine during liftoff.)
And while the flags themselves have endured, their iconic colors have not.
With no atmosphere and no shade, the Apollo flags continue to be exposed to intense, constant ultraviolet radiation. As a result, they’ve all been bleached white.
#3. The world’s largest U.S. flag measures 255’ by 505’ and weighs 3,000 lbs.
Thomas “Ski” Demski loved Old Glory. And while many patriots may feel that way, few of them would order the production of the world’s largest American flag to prove the point. But that’s exactly what Demski did.
Dubbed the “Superflag,” it was delivered to him on Flag Day in 1992. At one-and-a-half tons, the flag took 500 people to unfurl, and filled a portion of the mall in front of the Washington Monument.
In case you’re interested, Demski’s Superflag is available to rent. It travels in its own motor home. So while transporting the flag is no problem, you’ll need about 600 helpers if you intend to display it.
#4. In 2001, Walmart stores sold 250,000 U.S. flags in a single day.
Just hours after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Americans started buying flags.
On that fateful Tuesday, Walmart sold 116,000 flags. On Wednesday, the figure jumped to 250,000. (A year earlier, the company had sold 6,400 and 10,000 on those same dates.) By the following Friday, Walmart’s inventory was becoming depleted, but they still sold 135,000.
Flag manufacturers were having a similar experience. On the afternoon of Sept. 11, orders to Annin, the country’s oldest flag producer, began flooding its corporate office. Production had to be tripled in order to keep up.
Other flag companies experienced the same explosion in orders. Demand was far greater than ever before, and has never been equaled.
#5. Our current flag design was a student’s high school project.
In 1958, 17-year-old Robert Heft was an Ohio high school junior who had developed a love for the American flag as a Boy Scout. Here’s the remarkable tale of how this young patriot made history:
Sources:
Featured Image: Pixabay
National Georgraphic
Space.com
Superflag
The New York Times