11/06/2026
Flag Day is this weekend. As we gear up to honor Old Glory, it's good to remember how our beloved banner got to where it is today, because it didn't start with 50 stars.
The very first flag, the Grand Union of 1776, actually still bore the British Union Jack in its corner. It wasn't until 1777 that the familiar stars and stripes took shape; 13 of each, one for every original colony declaring independence.
From there, the flag grew alongside the nation. Every new state earned its star, and the need for a new flag. The 15-star flag flew during the War of 1812 and inspired Francis Scott Key to write what would become our national anthem. By 1818, Congress stepped in with a rule: 13 stripes always, to honor the founders, but a new star for every new state added the following July 4th.
The additions kept coming; sometimes one at a time, sometimes in clusters. In 1848, our flag got its 30th star when Wisconsin achieved statehood. You can see this version of the flag at the Waukesha and New Berlin 4th of July parades, where it will be carried as part of my office’s parade entry.
The addition of New Mexico and Arizona in 1912 brought the count to 48. That flag flew through two World Wars and Korea.
In 1959, Alaska and Hawaii crossed the finish line, and on July 4, 1960, the 50-star flag was raised for the first time. It has flown ever since, and is the longest-serving version of the flag in American history. 🇺🇸
