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Our Country's First Flag


Local legend says that the first flag of our country was raised on January 1, 1776, by George Washington himself.  The design of this flag was not sanctioned by the continental congress, but a design that was commonly agreed upon.  It took British symbols (the crosses of St. Andrew and St. George) and combined them with the thirteen red and white stripes of the colonies.

The cross of St. Andrew is also known as a saltire cross, its the one that stretches from corner to corner.  The cross of St. George is the one that is superimposed on it. This cross is most recognizable as the symbol of Crusaders.  One could wonder why the first flag to represent the unified colonies incorporated British symbols.  Originally the colonies were fighting for fair treatment under the crown.  It wasn't until quite later that a full scale independence movement took shape.