I am one of the most patriotic people you will ever meet! That's why I have a whole page devoted to America. Maybe I'm so patriotic because my parents were in the military. Maybe it's because I was born on Flag Day. Either way, I think I live in one of the greatest countries of the world. Not many people feel a great sense of pride every time they hear the National Anthem or have tears well up when they hear "Taps" or are in awe of "Old Glory" flapping in the breeze.

10 Interesting Things

1. On June 14, 1777, in order to establish and official flag for the new nation, the Continental Congress passed the first Flag Act: "Resolved, that the flag of the United States be made of thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing the new Constellation."

2. The flag of the United States of America today has 13 stripes (7 red and 6 white) and 50 white stars (five rows of 6 and four rows of 5) on a blue field. The stripes remind us of the 13 original colonies that gained our liberty. The stars represent the states that are bound together into one country.

3. All 3 colors in our flag symbolize a characteristic of our nation. The white of the stars and the stripes represents purity and innocence. The red of the stripes represents hardiness and valor. The blue of the union represents vigilance, perseverance, and justice.

4. 5 key players

Francis S. Key - National Anthem - 1814

Francis Bellamy - Pledge of Allegiance

B.J. Cigrand - Flag Day - 1885

Robert G. Heft - 50 star flag

Betsy Ross - (reportedly) sewed the first flag - 1776

5. Mourning is indicated by flying the flag at half-staff. You hoist it to the peak first, hold it there for an instant, then lower it to half-staff. One-half the distance between the top and the bottom of the staff. When ready to take it down, you first raise it to the peak and then lower slowly.

6. The flag should never be displayed upside down, except as a signal of dire distress like in situations of extreme danger to life or property.

7. When used to cover a casket, the flag should be placed with the union at the head and over the left shoulder. It should not be lowered into the grave.

8. Proper technique to fold the flag: Fold the flag in half widthwise twice. Fold up a triangle, starting at the striped end and repeat until only the end of the union is exposed. Then fold down the square into a triangle and tuck inside the folds.

9. The world's largest flag is displayed at Hoover Dam.

10. The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting symbol of our country for display, should be destroyed in a dignified manner, preferably by burning in an official Flag Burning Ceremony.