Home : Rank & Insignia :The First Official Flag
Old Glory's HistoryAs our nation emerged so did the symbol of its unity. Before the Continental Congress adopted the thirteen-star-and-stripe banner many flags were flown over different parts of this country's soil, including the flags of Holland and Sweden, the Spanish flag, France's fleur-de-lis and the British Union Jack. The first official flag of the new nation was created through a resolution of the Founding Fathers on June 14, 1777. The resolution specified that the flag have 13 stripes of alternating red and white and that the union comprise 13 white stars on a blue background to signify a "new constellation." However, because it was not specified how the stars were to be arranged flag makers of the time took it upon themselves to arrange the stars as they pleased: in rows, in a half circle and in a full circle. The one adopted was made by Betsy Ross and had the stars in a full circle. As the number of states grew more stars and stripes were added. At one point a flag with 15 stars and 15 stripes waved over Fort McHenry. This was the Star Spangled Banner that inspired our national anthem in 1814. In 1818 Congress passed a law freezing the number of stripes at 13 for the original 13 colonies and allowing a new star to be added to the flag for each state admitted to the union of the United States. The United States Flag Code adopted in 1942 by Congress provides the rules for honoring and displaying the flag. The code states, "The flag represents a living country and is itself considered a living thing." For this reason the code stipulates specifically how the flag should be respected, handled, displayed and used. For example, the flag should never be allowed to touch the ground or floor, and it must be properly illuminated in darkness.
Defense Of The Stars and StripesThe people of the United States have always turned to their flag to demonstrate their approval or disapproval of events in their country. In contemporary times, Americans sometimes think they are the only ones who know how to display and defend a national flag. Still, the history of America contains countless true stories of individuals more than willing to show their pride and preserve America's high flying symbol of independence. In Frederick, Maryland, there was the famous heroine, Barbara Fritchie, immortalized by John G. Whittier in his 1864 poem about her defense of the "Stars and Stripes" during the US Civil War. Her inspiration could possibly have been another of Frederick's patriotic citizens, Joseph Groff, who defended the flag just a few years earlier. The town of Frederick, with its many church spires, sat on the crossroads between Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington, DC. Its populace consisted of farmers, businessmen, bankers and craftsmen from various backgrounds but with a strong German and Swiss community. One of its entrepreneurs was 39-year-old Joseph Groff, originally from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. He had worked on canal boating in Harper's Ferry, had stockyards and a hotel in Pennsylvania and built a store in Frederick, which he now called home. Being in the community of Frederick gave him, along with his wife and children, stability and the opportunity to grow. One of Groff's prized possessions was a large US flag. In the early spring of 1861, to demon strate his support of the Federal government, Groff decided to publicly display his flag. However, it was enormous, easily 20 feet in length. He looked over the town and at his store, where he sold goods at public auction and was struck with an idea. Why not hang it from the top of his store across the town's main street to the other side and secure it to an adjacent building? That way everybody, whether resident or visitor, would see the flag as they came down the town's main thoroughfare. With the help of Groff's 17-year-old son, William, the American flag was soon secured firmly to the buildings. Groff stepped back, stood in the middle of the street and proudly admired the immense red and white stripes and the cluster of 34 white stars on its blue background. He felt very elated and proud of his actions that day. What Groff did not anticipate was the reaction from secession supporters in Frederick.
Maryland was a border state, so it had a very diverse and divided population in regard to the Southern states breaking from the Union. As word spread of the flag on display, people rushed from their homes and businesses to witness it firsthand. The crowd was a mixture of individuals in support of keeping the flag visible and those in opposition. A roar of hollers, shouts and arguments filled the air. Collectively, there appeared to be more people in favor of its removal, but Groff absolutely refused to have his flag touched by anyone. Leaders within the secession crowd thought they had come up with a solution for the flag's removal. They shouted to Groff that they would have Mr. Poffinberger, a large combative gentleman and supporter of secession, come immediately into town from his home on the outskirts of Frederick. With Poffinberger as their leader, they would surely be able to rip the flag down and thrash Groff to within an inch of his life. Despite the threat, the shopkeeper did not back down but instead approached the angry crowd so they could see the fire in his eyes and hear his every word. Looking out at the restless throng, Groff called out, "If any man took that flag down he would have me to whip first and if that man came in to do it, I would meet him." With those words, Groff turned and walked into his store. The stunned crowd eventually dispersed, talking among themselves about the possible fireworks this display of patriotism might produce. Groff waited and prepared himself to do battle. Hours eventually turned into days and the mighty Poffinberger failed to arrive. No further groups gathered to demonstrate against the prominent display of the US flag. Groff eventually won out and the flag continued to wave between the two buildings. One man alone stood up for his beliefs and for this large piece of cloth, in spite of the threat of personal harm. Frederick appeared to be a bit calmer in spite of the immediate threat of the nation going to war with itself. Spring turned into summer and Joseph Groff created Frederick's first Home Guard Company, which guarded the Monocracy Railroad Bridge. The US flag remained proudly displayed across the street. By the end of August 1861, Groff recruited Frederick men to form Company "B" of the 1st Home Potomac Brigade of Maryland and he was commissioned a First Lieutenant. Groff then took down the flag himself to carry it into military service. By September of 1862, his regiment was at Harper's Ferry and engaged in the Battle for Harper's Ferry and Maryland Heights where thousands of Union soldiers were captured, including Lt. Groff.
However, prior to his capture, the quick thinking Groff managed to wrap his US flag and bury it along the banks of the Potomac River. The level of the river was quite low at the time and he secured the flag's secret hiding spot with a large boulder. Those Union forces were released in a prisoner exchange within a day and then sent to Annapolis until they were reassigned. At the first opportunity Groff returned to the banks of the Potomac. The large stone he placed was still there, but the flag itself was gone from its hiding place. Groff looked all around but could not find it. He checked with fellow regiment personnel but no one knew the location of the large flag. The former shopkeeper was saddened by its loss but was optimistic that it still served another proud Union regiment. In the decades ahead, Joseph Groff remained a staunch supporter of the United States of America and continued to say, "Long may our flag wave...".
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