On June 14, 1912 President Howard Taft signs an Executive Order that will, for the first time, establish the proportions of the flag and provide for the arrangement of 6 horizontal rows of 8 stars, with a single point of each star pointing upward. Prior to this flag makers were free to arrange stars in whatever pattern they chose provided they were white stars on a blue field and the flag had 13 stripes of red and white.

 

During the 47 years this is our flag America will undergo some of its greatest challenges and triumphs.

 

"Dough Boys" will carry the US flag to the tragic battlefields of Europe during World War I. Waves of immigrants from all over the world will enter the United States and pledge their allegiance to this flag as they become citizens. It will be our flag during the Great Depression and World War II. It will become perhaps the most powerful symbol of World War II when it is photographed as it is being raised over Iwo Jima, the first incursion of US forces onto Japanese soil. It is our flag when Harry Truman declares an end to segregation in the United States Armed Forces. Following the end of World War II it will fly over America as she becomes a world power and builds the world’s strongest economy. This will be the flag the United States flies at United Nation Headquarters when it is established in New York City. Under this flag all Native Americans will finally be granted their full rights under the Constitution and the Civil Rights movement will be born. Chief Justice Earl Warren and the Supreme Court will declare an end to segregation in schools.

 

Following the end of World War II it will fly over America as she becomes a world power and builds the world’s strongest economy. This will be the flag the United States flies at United Nation Headquarters when it is established in New York City. Under this flag all Native Americans will finally be granted their full rights under the Constitution and the Civil Rights movement will be born. Chief Justice Earl Warren and the Supreme Court will declare an end to segregation in schools.

 

A 48 star flag is flying over the White House on December 7, 1941 when Pearl Harbor is attacked by the Japanese. Normally the flag flying over the White House is changed every day. However on December 8 the flag remains the same as war is declared on the Empire of Japan. Three days later that flag is raised again when the Declaration of War is expanded to include Germany and Italy. President Roosevelt takes great care to preserve that flag and titles it "The Flag of Liberation". He will take it with him to every major conference during World War II, including those at Malta, Yalta and Potsdam.

 

The 48 star flag flying over Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 will be taken by Harry Truman to be raised over the defeated city of Berlin on July 20, 1945. It will fly over the White House on August 14, 1945 when Japan surrenders to the United States and again on the USS Missouri on September 2, 1945 when the Japanese sign the terms of surrender.

 

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