When a state is admitted to the Union, it has to wait till the next Fourth of July to get its star added to the American flag. Michigan joined the union in January 1837. The twenty-six-star flag served from that July until Florida became a state in 1845.
The current fifty-star flag started flying on July 4, 1960, after the admissions of Alaska and Hawaii in 1959. Robert G. Heft, a Michigan boy then living with his grandparents in Ohio, designed it as a high school project in 1958, anticipating the addition of stars for Hawaii and Alaska to the preious forty-eight-star model. Heft was originally given a B- for his work, but his teacher upgraded it to an A when President Eisenhower chose his layout (also suggested by several other students) as the official flag for U.S. government facilities. Heft went on to create designs (all so far unneeded) for flags with fifty-one to sixty stars.
When the two of us look at the current flag, we think of it as an A+ flag. For this collage of images captured in and around Ann Arbor, we focused on the American flag as it flies outside, free and unfettered, with, weather permitting, the sun to give it sparkle, the sky to give it drama, and a breeze to bring it movement.
A flag is, by definition, a symbol of the nation. The American flag is not just another pretty decoration; it carries layers of connotations and meanings. These can encompass political positions, constitutional rights, graphic design, historical significance–enough topics to fill a book with facts and debate.
Given our space and mission, we concentrate more narrowly and personally and suggest a modest momentary stop in a day’s usual activities–a pause spent studying an American flag as it flies in a breeze outside. When we performed this exercise, our responses were emotionally laden. Bob was reminded of a warm and friendly early childhood in the Bronx, where the flag was raised and lowered each day on a flagpole in front of his grandma’s house. He grew up there with his grandmother, his parents, a brother, and a favorite aunt.
Jorja’s favorite flag memory has a bit more punch. In high school, she was part of a synchronized swimming team that toured the world promoting the sport. The tour culminated with a demonstration at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics that helped the sport become a permanent Olympic event. To this day, every time the American flag is displayed at the Olympics, tears of joy and pride well up in her eyes.
This month, why not take a look outside at an American flag flying in the breeze? Perhaps the meditative moment will stimulate some good personal memories of your own.
