Flag Day in America

From Drexel University Online, an educational video exploration into the history of the American flag, narrated by former NBC10 journalist Terry Ruggles. This compelling and informative video is the perfect American history teaching tool for teachers, parents, and anyone interested in learning the intriguing history of our nation's most famous symbol.



Activity
Let's discuss the history of the flag.
What do they already know?
What do the colors and the shapes symbolize?


Time to watch the online film, “The History of the U.S. Flag”, above, then
discuss the following questions.

1. What new things did you learn?

2. Who do you think designed the first flag? Is this debatable or just a short answer? Why
was Flag Day created?

3. Why do we remember Flag Day? We don’t get a day off for it, so what is the importance
of the day? In what ways is Flag Day still relevant, if at all?

4. There are lots of rules surrounding the flag. We don’t let it touch the ground, we retire old
flags through dignified burning, and we salute the flag as it is hoisted and lowered.
Additionally, the American flag should always be higher than other flags on the same
pole, and it should be in the center position in a panoply. We honor tragedies and death
by putting the flag at half-mast. Why do we honor these rules? Why is a scrap of cloth
with a certain pattern on it that we call a flag so important? Do symbols matter? What is
a symbol? Think about something in your life that you say, do, think, or own that
symbolizes something important.

5. Is it legal to burn the American flag as a sign of protest? (In Texas v. Johnson, 1989, the
Supreme Court ruled that it is legal to burn the American flag as a sign of protest. It is
protected as free speech under the First Amendment). Discuss this in groups. Would
you be offended if someone burned the American flag? Do you think burning the
American flag counts as free speech? There have been attempts to pass amendments
to ban the burning of American flags, but they all have failed. Would you have voted for
or against such an amendment? Are there other national symbols that should be
protected from destruction? (Liberty Bell, Washington Monument, Presidential Seal)
What other thoughts do you have about this?

6. After the discussion, write a reflection about what you think the flag means for the
country and what you think about flag burning and why