"A flag not only is the greatest single representation of identity there is, but it also serves another very important function, it delivers a message.  The American Revolution was the most prolific period in the history of man for flag making," said Van De Putte who informed those gathered that every militia across the thirteen colonies had their own flag and seamstresses were all over the country, but in the navy, we needed one that visually represented what we were at the time, hence "the Continental Colors.  The message was very clear, the King's colors were on the canton of the flag while the thirteen colonies were represented by the red and white stripes on the field.  This flag says 'We are British, but the thirteen colonies are represented as part of the fight'.

This was the first official flag of our country until our founding fathers decided 'We're not part of your country anymore, we're going out on our own and we will fight for our independence' on July 4th, 1776 when we unofficially adopted the second flag displayed which was a flag with thirteen five pointed stars on a blue canton and the thirteen red and white stripes.

All who attended said the presentation was very interesting and they all left with a renewed sense of patriotism as Van De Putte eloquently recited the entire poem Francis Scott Key wrote of which stanzas were taken for our National Anthem. "Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam, In full glory reflected now shines in the stream: 'Tis the star-spangled banner, O! long may it wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave. ...Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,  And this is our motto: In God is our trust." -An excerpt of Sir Francis Scott Key's  "The Star-Spangled Banner" Originally Entitled "Defence of Fort M'Henry".