The Grand Union Flag

July 5, 2019 / Sarah Kay Bierle / 6 Comments

Nope, we’re not talking about a Civil War flag. We’ve moving about four score years farther back on the historic timeline this month to discuss flags used by the Americans during the War for Independence.

Today’s featured flag has historically been considered the first flag national flag of the United States. The design – approved by the Continental Congress – was widely used in 1776 and 1777 prior to the adoption of the “Betsy Ross Flag” which is usually associated with the conflict.

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Betsy Ross, An American Seamstress: Separating Fiction From Fact

July 8, 2016July 7, 2016 / Sarah Kay Bierle / 8 Comments

Unauthentic portrait of Betsy Ross

If I mention the name “Betsy Ross”, what do you think of? This Philadelphian seamstress has become an American legend for her role in creating our flag. But what’s myth and legend? And what’s truth regarding this remarkable woman? Continue reading →

“Thus Always To Tyrants” – 1st Virginia Brigade Flag, 1861

June 6, 2016 / Sarah Kay Bierle / 5 Comments

Flags. Simple cloth with so much meaning. In the last year, there have been fierce debates about certain flags from the Civil War era; to re-hash those arguments and re-fight those battles is not the purpose of the June’s Historical Theme of the Month on Gazette665 –
“Battlefield Banners: Flags of the American Civil War.” Instead of focusing on the “national” flags, I thought it would a positive experience to learn about some of the colors carried by certain units – regiments, brigades, etc. Continue reading →