Flapping proudly in the breeze, the Stars and Stripes, the American flag, symbolizes America--freedom. Over the years the flag has changed as more states joined the Union, but its basic design has remained the same. In the upper left hand corner the flag has a blue rectangle. White stars, one for each state, lie amongst the blue. Thirteen red and white stripes make up the rest of the flag, and these stand for the thirteen original colonies. Each color on the flag stands for different things: white signifies purity and innocence, red signifies hardiness and valor, and blue signifies perseverance and justice. By law Old Glory flies 24 hours a day in several different places including the United States Marine Corp Memorial and the White House. United States Code Title 36, Chapter 10, also known as the flag code, lays down specific guidelines for handling and display of the American flag. This flag has seen many battles and other events, and it tells the story of American history, unity, freedom, and liberty.

age = 13-16