The Significance of Flags Flown at an Inauguration
A Presidential Inauguration takes place once every four years on January 20. With each inauguration, it is customary to fly flags, and the flight of the flags denotes particular significances during the ceremony.
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The Capitol Flag Program
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There are special traditions for flying flags above the Capitol. The Capitol building in Washington, D.C., has been the official location for flag flying since 1937 for special occasions, including inaugurations. Flags are flown year-round, but there are definitive procedures for inaugural events, including number of flags, flag order, and types of flags flown.
The Flag Lineup
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Flags are flown in a particular formation for an inauguration. Traditionally flags are flown at inaugurations and the order in which they are flown holds symbolic meaning. There are a total of five flags. The current American flag symbolizing the entire country is flown in the central position. This flag is flanked by two flags that represent the incoming president's home state. The two outer flags are 13-star flags, representative of the nation's first 13 colonies.
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More About the State Flags
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The number of stars on a flag gradually reached 50 as states were added to the union. As states joined the union, the American flag added more stars. Prior to our current flag, there were evolutionary models along the way. These former flags are used during inaugurations, one copy flying on each side of the current flag. When Bill Clinton was inaugurated, a flag with 25 stars was flown, indicative of the admission to the union of Arkansas as the 25th state. For George W. Bush, a flag with 28 stars was flown.
About the First Official American Flag
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George Washington worked with Betsy Ross to create the first U.S. flag, under which he served. The first United States flag was created in 1777. George Washington was inaugurated in 1789 and served to 1797. The only president to serve under the first flag, he conferred with the flag's seamstress, Betsy Ross, about its creation when he was a member of the Continental Congress.
Jefferson Davis
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A flag was not flown at the inauguration for Confederate President Jefferson Davis. During the Civil War the southern states formed the Confederate States of America. Their capital was in Montgomery, Alabama, and it was there where the Confederate States inaugurated their president, Jefferson Davis, in 1861. Although the Confederate flag existed at the time of the inauguration, it was not flown at the ceremony.
Obama Inauguration and Flag Flying Controversy
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The Confederate Flag was not permitted to fly in Virginia during Barack Obama's inauguration. During Barack Obama's inauguration, the flags with 21 stars were waving for Illinois. Traditionally in Virginia on Civil War general Robert E. Lee's birthday, the Confederate flag has been flown. However, Lee's birthday coincided with Obama's inauguration, and the Confederate flag was not permitted to fly because of its connotation of slavery and racism.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit American Flag image by dwight9592 from Fotolia.com Capitol Building image by dwight9592 from Fotolia.com US Capitol Building image by dwight9592 from Fotolia.com american flag image by Richard Kane from Fotolia.com united states postage George Washington. Timbre postal. image by Blue Moon from Fotolia.com jefferson davis #2 image by Gareau Enterprises from Fotolia.com Rebel flag image by Roman Barelko from Fotolia.com
