Tag: Flag Day

Just a reminder: as an Amazon Associate, we may earn a small commission when readers purchase products through our links. Learn more at our Disclosures page.

Flag Day is Sunday, June 14th. It’s been celebrated every year on June 14th since President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed it such in 1916. The reason for that specific date actually goes all the way back to 1777, when the flag of the United States was adopted by the Second Continental Congress on June 14, 1777. Coincidentally, the US Army shares the same birthday; it was formed on June 14, 1775.

Now that We Know the Why, Here’s the Who

There are six companies offering 100% made-in-the-USA, American flags, whose products are available on Amazon:

American Flag & Pole Co: Operating in Phoenix AZ since 1985.

Annin Flagmakers: Founded in 1847. See their impressive resumé below.

Collins Flags: Located in Marion, Indiana, their eco-friendly flags are made of 100% recycled water and soda bottles.

Rushmore Rose USA: The Texas-based company’s 100% cotton flag is an Amazon best-seller. Their website has a section on flag etiquette and a list of half-staff proclamations.

USA Flag Co: Operating from Sparks, Nevada, their website offers many tips on flag etiquette.

Valley Forge Flags: Established in 1882 and headquartered in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania, they manufacture and distribute their products from their facilities in South Carolina.

Annin Flagmakers: A Special Shoutout

Talk about an American flag! Here’s some information from Annin’s website: “Our flags have participated in world events such as:

• The inauguration of Abraham Lincoln, as well as the flag that draped his casket.
• The opening ceremonies of the Brooklyn Bridge in 1883.
• The arrival of Commander Robert E. Peary at the North Pole in 1909 and Rear Admiral Richard E. Byrd at the South Pole 21 years later.
• Raising the flag by U.S. Marines atop Mt. Suribachi on Iwo Jima in 1945.
• When Apollo 11 made its historic mission to the moon in 1969, its cargo included 186 Annin flags that Astronauts Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin, Neil Armstrong and Michael Collins would later distribute as mementos.
• America’s 1976 Bicentennial celebration.
• The design and inception of the POW-MIA flag in 1979 in conjunction with the National League of Families of POW/MIA.
• The Field of Remembrance at Battery Park, NY for the 10th Anniversary of September 11th.”

The “Prime” Choices

There are 12 made-in-the-USA flag choices that qualify for Amazon Prime, so you can have Old Glory delivered, raised, and flying on Flag Day. All of these flags have great reviews (4.1 stars up to 5.0), so you can focus on size, materials, and price. We’ll start with the most popular size. You may already have the right flagpole for it.

Three by Five: the Golden (Retriever) Ratio

If you’ve bought a flag at Costco, Sam’s, or similar establishment, chances are the flag was 3 x 5 feet (36 x 60 inches). Alas, chances are also it was not made in America. On the positive side, its pole will probably fit your new, American-made American flag. This size flag is well-proportioned for most homes; hence, its sale at most retail stores.

Here’s a little more information on that 3 : 5 relationship. It comes very close to the Golden Ratio, which scientists, artists, musicians, mathematicians, naturalists, astronomers, and philosophers have observed for thousands of years. Items in this proportion are visually attractive. For the mathematically inclined, the ratio is approximately 1 : 1.618, or:

(a + b) is to a as a is to b

the Golden Ratio (aka Golden Mean, Divine Proportion)

Let’s not even get started with how the Golden Ratio relates to the Fibonacci Sequence: we’ll miss Flag Day! Suffice it to say, a 3 x 5 flag’s proportion is in good company with the Parthenon, the Eiffel Tower, and maybe even your flat-screen television. And, even though the dimensions for official American flags are 1 : 1.9 (per 4 USC § 1 and 2), there are exceptions even then: casket flags are 5 x 9 1/2 feet. The flags sold to the general public are 3 x 5 feet and that is perfectly permissible, even desirable esthetically.

As I said above, you’re probably going to be very happy with any flag you choose from our list. However, there are a few that get extremely high review ratings, with a whole bunch of reviewers weighing in.

While there are exceptions, flags with sewn stripes and embroidered stars are considered to be of a higher quality than those having the colors printed onto a single piece of fabric. Keep that in mind as we continue looking at 3 x 5 flags.

Speaking of cotton, Valley Forge Flags makes a 100% cotton 3 x 5 flag. It has sewn stripes, embroidered stars, and heavy-duty brass grommets. You’ll want to use it on special occasions or display it indoors, but it is a beautiful flag. It sells for $27.93 and rates 4.3 stars over 299 reviews.

Other Sizes

Sure, the 3 x 5 flag is probably the most popular flag for home use – and the 3:5 ratio most closely approximates the Golden Mean – but you may need something smaller. More likely though, if you’re in the market for an American flag (not to mention one that’s made in the USA), there’s probably at least a part of you that’s wishing you could go pedal-to-the-metal, full-bore, ‘Murican with it. You’re in luck! These options are also Amazon Prime eligible.

Let’s get small(er).

A little bit larger, now.

Keeping the Golden Ratio, only with four times the real estate.

Some countries are smaller than this flag.

And Now, for Something Completely Different

Collins Flags doesn’t have any Amazon Prime-eligible flags, but we wanted to share its RePatriot Eco-Glory American flag with you. It’s made of 100% recycled water and soda bottles. The yarn is created from the PET material and woven into a polyester fabric, then dyed red, white and blue. The flag has embroidered stars and sewn stripes, which are sewn with a premium quality extra-strength polyester thread.The seams are double-stitched with back-stitch to reinforce the corners and four rows of lock stitching on the fly end. A great tribute to American ingenuity! The RePatriot sells for $34.99 and you can be the first to review it!

Twilight’s Last Gleaming

Flag Day is upon us and the Fourth of July is right around the corner. There’s no better time to upgrade your American flag to one that’s made right here in the good ol’ U S of A. You know you’ll be glad you did!

About American Dog

I started American Dog for two reasons: (1) for Winston and the world to get to know one another and (2) to showcase the excellence and depth of all the great American products that are made right here in the USA. This sense of purpose has only gotten stronger over time, and I believe it is being shared by more of us every day.

I’m part of the Amazon Affiliates program. When I research and review products listed on Amazon, I may receive remuneration for items purchased there. Rest assured, however, that it has no bearing on the price you pay. Also, I never base my reviews on what I might receive from Amazon. After all, we’re American Dog: always faithful, loyal, and true – to you and to America!