Why Is the American Flag Red, White and Blue?

A flag is not just a piece of a rectangular cloth with a casually written squiggle on it. It represents what a country stands for. Its colors and symbols indicate the different aspects that are deeply rooted in the nation’s tradition.

The American Flag is one that embodies the country’s rich civil history. It consists of 13 red and white alternating horizontal stripes (that symbolize the original 13 colonies that fought against the British crown which became the first states of the union) and a blue rectangle on the upper left containing 50 five – pointed stars (that represents the 50 united states).

According to a book published in 1977 by the House of Representatives, stars were used instead of other geometric symbols because they are iconic heavenly representations that deal with man’s divine goal while the horizontal stripes, also symbolic of a heavenly body, the sun’s rays as it emanate from the sun. The colors chosen are very specific. There is dark red (rgb value = 191,10,48), white (rgb value = 255,255,255) and navy blue (rgb value = 0,40,104). You may be wondering, why these specific colors? You see, in making a flag, choosing the colors are as important as the design itself.

The colors not only reaffirm the country’s ideologies but make it publicly known how and what they believe it takes. The color red is known to mean revolution. When you see this color, automatically it gives you a rush of courage. You feel alive and realize that blood (which coincidentally is of the same color) allows you exist. To balance the surge of emotions brought about by red, white is included in the roster.

Signifying purity, innocence and virtue, this is a mental note to remind the people of what they are fighting for. Blue symbolizes justice, freedom, prosperity, vigilance and perseverance. The color of the chief, order and integrity are given due importance in consideration of the other 2 colors. Having become as iconic as the country has, the American flag has undeniably stood the test of time.