MOULTRIE — If this were a Big Bang Episode it would begin as such: “Dr. Sheldon Cooper and Dr. Amy Farrah Fowler presents: Dr. Sheldon Cooper’s Fun with Flags.” 

Alas, it is not; however, due to today being National Flag day, let’s still talk flags. 

The American flag was originally adopted in 1777 at the end of the American Revolution; however, it wasn’t until 1885 when a schoolteacher advocated the importance of celebrating its meaning that the idea of a day reserved for celebration began. 

June 14, 1889 marks the first recognized celebration of Flag Day when Professor George Bolch, who was principal at an underprivileged school in New York City, arranged patriotic ceremonies each student would participate in. 

From there, the movement gained traction and on May 30, 1916, President Woodrow Wilson made a proclamation for a annual national Flag Day. 

Everyone knows what the American flag looks like today: 13 red and white horizontal alternating stripes with 50 white stars on a blue background for the canton – top left corner of the flag. 

But, how did this become the symbol for our nation? 

Like with everything, the American flag has had several changes throughout the years.  

The idea for a universal flag initially began in 1767 when colonists of the “New World” were protesting against British taxation. Flown to show the support toward freedom, the flag had alternating red and white stripes in a horizontal fashion; known as the Sons of Liberty flag. 

Less than 10 years later the first change to the flag occurred, and it became the Continental Colors flag in 1775 to represent the ending of the American Revolution. 

Flown on December 3 by John Paul Jones, who was a Continental Navy lieutenant on a vessel named Alfred in Philadelphia, those red and white stripes were now turned vertically and the British flag displayed in the canton.

Due to this flag being too similar to the British they were trying to disassociate with, this version didn’t last long. Just one year later, the flag was redesigned again. 

Betsy Ross is known to have been employed by George Washington embroidering his shirt ruffles; legend has it that her hands stitched the initial design of the flag, which kept the stripes unchanged but removed the British flag completely and replaced it with a blue background and 13 white, five-pointed stars in a circle. 

Not long after, Francis Hopkinson had the honor of designing one of the National American flags. He did this in 1777 when working the Continental Marine Committee, today known as the Secretary of the Navy,  

Also known as the Stars and Stripes flag, Hopkins created what would become the model for how it’s still flown today. The only thing changed was changing the 13 white stars into a new pattern: five rows of stars stacked horizontally. 

Following the design, Hopkins billed Congress for a quarter cask of the public wine for his compensation.   

1813 was the next change to the American flag when both the number of stars and stripes were increased to 15 to give representation to the two newest states: Vermont and Kentucky. 

Given the name the Star Spangled Banner flag, it was this version of the national flag flown during the battle at Fort McHenry in Baltimore when Francis Scott Key wrote what became the national anthem.  

The next change for the flag was passed by Congress after a suggestion from the U.S. Naval captain at the time, Samuel C. Reid: reduce the number of stripes, which would represent the original 13 colonies, and 20 stars, one for each of the current states. 

In addition to maintaining the flag would have exactly 13 stripes, continuing to rotate in color between red and white, the new law declared the flag would automatically be updated with the addition of a new star with each incoming state. 

1960 was the last time a new star was added when Hawaii became the final U.S. state.

Reid, also in 1818, designed another flag, which is an authorized flag and was a special edition. 

Known as the 20 Great Star Flag, the 20 stars in the canton were arranged into one, larger star. Also known as the Grand Luminary flag, there have been several variations of it throughout the years. 

In 1775 was the Forester flag, which has near solid red with 13 short, vertical white stripes in the canton — again as representation for those initial colonies. It was flown during the battle of Lexington and Concord on April 19.

Cowpens flag, which took Ross’ circle design but placed the 13th star in the center of the circle of the remaining 12 stars, was flown in 1781 by the 3rd Regiment during the Battle of Cowpens in Maryland during the later part of the American Revolution. 

In honor of the end of the American Revolution, a special flag known as the French Alliance flag was flown in 1781 and 1782 that depicted a longer canton with three rows of stars — the middle row having five stars with the other two having four each. 

Featuring the Coat-Of-Arms in front of the stars, the Indian Peace flag was introduced and flown in 1803 to indicate a friendly Indian nation.

Though not a unique flag in appearance, one standard issue 24-star flag given as a gift would become one of the most famous American flags in history. 

March 17, 1824 – on his birthday –  21-year-old sea captain, William Driver, was presented with an American flag by his mother and group of local women. Ecstatic about the gift, Driver instantly named his new possession “Old Glory,” becoming the originator of this now famous nickname.

Proceeding to fly his prized possession from his vessel for the duration of his seaman career, which ended in 1837, Driver began flying Old Glory from his residence by using a rope and tying it to a large tree. 

This particular flag is also famous for another reason as well. 

After Tennessee seceded from the Union in 1861, Driver stitched Old Glory into his comforter so that during the Civil War it would remain protected. 

Removing the flag from its hiding spot when Union soldiers arrived on February 25, 1862, Driver proudly displayed Old Glory at the state capitol building in support of the Union. 

Passing the flag on to his daughter before his death, the Drier family kept Old Glory in their possession until 1922 when it was donated to the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., for public display and viewing.      

Throughout all these different variations of the American flag, one thing had remained the same: the meaning behind the red, white and blue. 

According to Charles Thomson, who served as the secretary of the Continental Congress from 1774-1789, the colors used meant the following: Red is for hardness and valor; blue for vigilance, perseverance and justice; and white purity and innocence.