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United States of America

by Conrad Suckow, 8 August 1999
Flag adopted 4 July 1960, coat of arms adopted 20 June 1782.
ColorShades

Evolution of the Stars and Stripes 13-51 Stars ... Departmental flags Heritage flags Historical flags Maritime flags Military flags Organizational flags Political Parties and Movements 50 States and one District
What Shade of Red/White/Blue National Colors Coat of Arms Flag Sizes/Proportions Half Masting Five-pointed stars on flags Proportions/Flag Sizes Flag laws in the United States Where U.S. flag flies 24 hours a day Special Flag Flying Days Patriotic Decorations	Legends & Lore Flag Urban Legends Commemorative flags House Flags of U.S. Shipping Companies Regional flags U.S. flags with -Unofficial- Number of Stars Space Shuttle flags Books on U.S. flags National Geographic Society U.S. Olympic Flags Gay Pride Variations of U.S. flags

See also:

Clickable map of the United States
Vexillological Associations for you flag buffs
United States Flag History Pages by Dave Martucci
Flag burning debate
The Fringe argument
Folding the U.S. flag
U.S. Minor Outlying Islands
Guam
Puerto Rico
American Samoa
Northern Mariana Islands
Virgin Islands

In 1960, a star was added, representing Hawaii, bringing the total number of stars to 50. There are thirteen stripes representing the thirteen original colonies.

According to President Dwight Eisenhower's Executive Order (#10834, published 25 August, 1959) the 50-Star flag would become the "official flag of the United States on July 4, 1960."
Nick Artimovich, 21 February 1996

What Shade of Red/White/Blue

The official regulation, which I just tracked down at the Defense Technology Information Center website http://www.dtic.mil is General Services Administration "Federal Specification, Flag, National, United States of America and Flag, Union Jack," DDD-F-416E, dated November 27, 1981. It specifies the colors by reference to "Standard Color Cards of America" maintained by the Color Association of the United States, Inc. These are:
Cable No. 70180 Old Glory Red
Cable No. 70001 White
Cable No. 70075 Old Glory Blue
Joe McMillan, 25 January 2000

Old Glory Red (PMS 193C), White, and Old Glory Blue (PMS 281C)

National Colors

by Joe McMillan, 7 November 2000
Army and Air Force version

by Joe McMillan, 7 November 2000
Coast Guard and Marine Corps and Navy version

Usage: This version of the U.S. National Flag, called the National Color, is used on parade and for indoor display with all other types of Army flags and colors. For example, all regiments, battalions of regiments and separate battalions are authorized a "stand of colors"--the National Color and their Organizational Color. The dimensions are 3' at the hoist by 4' on the fly with 2 1/2" yellow fringe, i.e. the same as for Army flags and colors. (For display with larger size Army flags and colors, e.g. the Organizational Color of the U.S. Corps of Cadets, dimensions are 4'4" at the hoist by 5'6" on the fly with 2 1/2" yellow fringe.)
Tom Gregg, 30 September 1998

The sea services use a national color without fringe, generally 52x66 inches, with red, white, and blue cord and tassels.
Joe McMillan, 6 September 1999