United States Flag

The American flag has 13 alternating red and white horizontal stripes representing the original 13 colonies, and a blue rectangle (the "canton" or "union") in the upper hoist bearing 50 white five-pointed stars — one for each US state.

The stripes run red-white-red, starting and ending with red (7 red, 6 white). The canton covers the top 7 stripes on the hoist side. The proportions are specified at 10:19 in the Flag Resolution of 1777, last updated in 1960.

The Continental Congress passed the Flag Resolution on 14 June 1777, calling for "thirteen stripes alternate red and white" and "thirteen stars, white in a blue field." Betsy Ross is popularly credited with sewing the first flag, though this is debated by historians.

Stars have been added as states joined the Union — the 50th star (Hawaii) was added on 4 July 1960. The current 50-star design is the longest-serving version, surpassing the 48-star flag in 1960. 14 June is celebrated as Flag Day.