Old Glory
Old Glory is a nickname for the U.S. flag. You might celebrate the Fourth of July by flying Old Glory from the flagpole on your porch.
The original Old Glory was a flag owned by a 19th-century sea captain that was protected during the Civil War from being captured by Confederate soldiers. This famous flag inspired the nickname for what you might also know as "the Star-Spangled Banner" or "the Stars and Stripes." The first Old Glory had 24 stars, while today's version has 50, representing the 50 states, and 13 stripes for the original British colonies.
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the national flag of the United States of Americasynonyms: American flag, Star-Spangled Banner, Stars and Stripestype of:flagemblem usually consisting of a rectangular piece of cloth of distinctive design
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Vocabulary lists containing Old Glory
Memorial Day, or Decoration Day as it was originally called in the localities in which it was celebrated, began as an occasion for decorating the graves of soldiers who had died fighting in the U.S. Civil war. Declared a national holiday in 1966, it is traditionally observed by decorating fallen soldiers' graves, honoring them with parades, speeches, and concerts, and gathering for picnics and family gatherings. Celebrate Memorial Day with these words that help promote an understanding of the holiday's meaning. Then look for more meaning in the day by learning vocabulary from Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, and recite the famous memorial oration on this solemn day.
The Continental Congress adopted the resolution for the flag of the United States on June 14, 1777, but the first claim of a Flag Day celebration was not until 1861 in Hartford, CT. For nearly a century after this, many attempts increased the popularity of June 14 Flag Day commemorations. However, it was not until 1949 that Congress approved — and President Harry Truman signed into law — the national Flag Day observance.