10 Chapter 9 A Legend Is Born

Chapter 9 A Legend Is Born The story of Betsy Ross might have ended with her death in 1836 if not for William Canby. William was Betsy's grandson. In 1870, he gave a speech in Philadelphia to the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. William had gathered memories of Betsy from his family to share with the group.

In his speech, Canby said that Betsy Ross had made the first US flag. "This lady is the one to whom belongs the honor of having made with her own hands the first flag," Canby said. He said that Betsy's daughters remembered hearing the story from their mother. He had even spoken to Betsy's niece Margaret. Canby's story caught the public's attention. Not long after, in 1876, America celebrated its one hundredth birthday. Patriotic speeches like Canby's were widely repeated. People were very interested in the details of how the United States had gained its independence. The story of the "first flag" was soon told all over the country. By the 1890s, the story of Betsy Ross was so popular that the city of Philadelphia wanted to create a way to remember her. One of the houses that she might have lived in was still standing. It became a tourist attraction. The people who lived there hung a sign that said "First Flag of the US Made in This House." In 1898, it was established as

the American Flag House. The house became a museum dedicated to the life of Betsy Ross and the story of Philadelphia. In the years since Canby's speech, historians have tried to learn more about Betsy Ross. They have found no direct evidence that she did in fact sew the first flag. Washington's papers do not mention her. Congressional records do not mention her.

Historians require more proof than stories and memories. However, Betsy was part of an amazing time in American history. The story of her life, her work, and her family remains true, even if the reason she is famous may not be. Today, more than 250,000 people visit the Betsy Ross House in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, each year. It is located a few blocks from Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell, and it remains one of the most visited sites in the city.

FLAG ETIQUETTE

THE UNITED STATES FLAG CODE HAS MANY RULES ABOUT THE PROPER USE AND TREATMENT OF THE AMERICAN FLAG. THESE ARE DESIGNED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE FLAG ALWAYS RECEIVES THE RESPECT IT DESERVES. AS A SYMBOL OF THE NATION, IT IS MORE THAN JUST A PIECE OF CLOTH. FLAGS SHOULD BE FLOWN ONLY DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS AND NEVER IN THE RAIN. WHEN DISPLAYED WITH STATE FLAGS, THE US FLAG SHOULD BE HIGHEST. A FLAG IS FLOWN AT HALF-STAFF, OR ONLY HALFWAY UP A POLE, TO HONOR THE PASSING OF AN IMPORTANT PERSON. WHEN THE FLAG IS HUNG ON A WALL, THE BLUE FIELD SHOULD ALWAYS BE ON THE LEFT.