SmallWhale

The Awesome Flag of Washington, D.C.!

Discover a flag with a secret family history and a design that's super famous!

Images

A little girl seeks inspiration in front of the statue of Abraham Lincoln

A little girl seeks inspiration in front of the statue of Abraham Lincoln

openverse
Suntrust Bank Building.
@ Walk For The Children of Syria (Washington D.C.) 09-08-2012
Mathew Brady
Flag of Washington, D.C. (B&W)
Changing of the Guard, Inaugration Day, Washington D.C. USA, Barack Obama, George W. Bush Collage
Cathy L. Lanier
Islamic Center of Washington DC
A father prepares to fly a kite on the front lawn of the White House
Foreign Leader Visits
20121219-OSEC-LSC-0142
US Supreme Court

Key Facts

Design Elements
Three red stars above two red bars on a white background.
Heraldic Blazon
Argent two bars gules, in chief three mullets of the second.
Origin of Design
Based on the 1592 coat of arms of Lawrence Washington.
Vexillological Ranking
Ranked best among 150 American city flags.

What's That Cool Flag?

Imagine a flag with three bright red stars sitting above two red stripes, all on a clean white background. That's the flag of Washington, D.C.! It's like a special badge for the capital city of the United States. This flag isn't just pretty; it tells a story about where it came from and what it means to the people who live there. It's a symbol that flies high and proud!

A Starry Family Tree!

This flag has a super old secret! It's based on a coat of arms, which is like a fancy family crest, from a man named Lawrence Washington. He lived a long, long time ago in England, and he was even George Washington's great-great-great-grandfather!

The design with the stars and stripes was even used by George Washington himself in his home. So, this flag has a connection to one of America's most famous presidents!

Why It's a Super Star Flag!

This flag is a big deal because it's recognized as the best city flag in the whole country! Out of 150 city flags, people who study flags (they're called vexillologists!) gave it the highest score. It's like getting a gold medal in a flag competition. It shows that the design is really special and stands out. It's a symbol that many people in Washington, D.C. are proud of today.

Making the Flag Famous!

A long time ago, people in Washington, D.C. didn't have their own special flag. So, in 1938, some important people got together to create one. They looked at different designs and picked the one we see today. Even though people in D.C. didn't get to vote on it back then, they now see it as a symbol of their city and their identity. It's a flag that represents a unique place!

Was this helpful?
W

Based on content from Wikipedia ยท Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0