New U.S. Flag Design

It was customary up into the end of the 19th century for citizens and groups to design their own versions of the US flag. The "Betsy Ross" flag, for example, was never an official US flag any more than the "Bennington Flag" was, but both are some of the favorite designs of all time. The "Great Star" flags and a variety of "Federal Eagle" flags were popular in the early to mid 19th century and then during the War Between the States (WBTS), there was a popular revival of circular patterns.

Although the practice of 'personalizing' the US flag is nearly extinct, it was a major part of pre-WBTS America. Along with the downfall of State's Rights and political diversity within the US as a result of that war, conformity to federal power can be seen by the sudden end of the sectional variety of US flags. Strict use of the official flag became the norm.

When we lost that personal 'ownership' of our flag, that ability to make it represent our view of country - be that a unified circle, a collection of individual stars to make a single great star or some other symbolic representation - we lost a part of the Founder's America. As that loss came as a byproduct of the WBTS, it is only fitting that its resurrection should come from that same source.

I have designed this "Heritage Flag" version of the 50 star US flag to represent the lasting influence of State and Individual rights even in the midst of the massive central government. Our official US flag simply shows a grid of stars, identical cogs in rank and file. It lacks the 'unity' of the circle flags and the 'greater purpose' of the great star flags.

This design shows the individual stars forming a new constellation, one representative of our shared heritage. The thirteen stripes represent the original states of the First War of American Independence and the thirteen larger stars represent the states of the Second War of American Independence. The other 37 stars form the borders of the saltier of the Southern Cross, completing the design and representing the extension of Constitutional philosophy throughout the country that is now building towards a restoration of original Constitutional government, created in 1789, restored in the CSA in 1861 and lost in 1865. The use of 9 stars in the north (top), east (right) and west (left) symbolizes the 9th Amendment rights of the People and 10 stars in the south (bottom) represents the 10th Amendment rights of the States and the People, all but lost as a result of the WBTS.

May this new version of our flag fly proudly and symbolize a restoration of Constitutional government within the United States and a return of this government and its symbols to the People.