For more than 200 years, the American flag has been the symbol of our nation's strength and unity. On January 1, 1776, the Continental Army was reorganized and American forces under George Washington's control. On that day as the Continental Army was laying siege to Boston, Washington ordered the Grand Union flag hoisted above his base at Prospect Hill. It had 13 alternate red and white stripes and the British Union Jack in the upper left-hand corner. That was the very first time a flag represented our nacent nation. Then, in May of 1776, Betsy Ross reported that she sewed the first American flag. On June 14, 1777 the Continental Congress passed the first Flag Act establishing the first official flag for this new nation. The flag had thirteen alternating red and white stripes and the union contained thirteen white stars,on a blue field. Between 1777 and 1960, Congress changed the shape, design and arrangement of the flag with the addition of each new state. - Act of January 13, 1794 - provided for 15 stripes and 15 stars. Act of April 4, 1818 - provided for 13 stripes and one star for each state, to be added to the flag on the 4th of July following the admission each new state. Executive Order of President in 1912 - established proportions of the flag and the arrangement of the stars, a single point of each star to point upward. Another Executive Order in January of 1959 - provided for the arrangement of the stars in seven rows of seven stars each, staggered horizontally and vertically. In August of 1959 - provided for the arrangement of the stars in nine rows of stars staggered horizontally and eleven rows of stars staggered vertically. Today the flag still sports the original thirteen horizontal stripes, seven red and six white. The stripes represent the original 13 colonies, each of the stars represents one of the 50 states of the Union. The colors are symbolic; red symbolizing hardiness and valor, white representing purity and the blue stands for vigilance, perseverance and justice.