The American flag consists of 13 horizontal stripes, with 7 red stripes alternating with 6 white stripes. The upper left corner near the staff has a rectangular blue field, containing 50 five-pointed stars. The stripes of the flag symbolize the 13 colonies that originally constituted the United States. The stars represent the 50 states of the Union.

There is no official designation or meaning for the colors used in the American flag, but the Continental Congress thought of the white as standing for purity and innocence; the Red for hardiness and valor; and Blue for vigilance, perseverance, and justice. According to legend, George Washington interpreted the stars as being taken from the sky, the red from the British colors, and the white stripes signified the secession from the home country.

Because of its stars, stripes, and colors, the American flag is frequently referred to as the Star-Spangled Banner or Old Glory.

History tells us that “Old Glory” was used first by Stephen Driver of Salem, Mass. In 1831 as he was leaving on his ship, friends gave him a beautiful new American flag. When the new American flag was unfurled in the ocean breeze, Captain Driver was smitten by its splendor and is said to have exclaimed, ”Old Glory!” and that American flag became known as Old Glory. In 1837, Captain Driver retired to Tennessee, and when that state separated from the Union in the Civil War, rebels tried to find and destroy the Old Glory flag. To protect the flag, Captain Driver hid it inside the seams of his bed quilt, so the rebels never got hold of it! In 1862, Captain Driver raised Old Glory over the state capitol to celebrate the Union’s triumph, and ever since, people have called the American flag “Old Glory.”

Information taken from the flag of flags.com

www.flagofflags.com

The Italian flag is a rectangular drape, vertically divided into three equal sections: green, white, and red. (the green side is attached to the mast). The width of the drape is equal to two-thirds of its length.

The tricolor was first adopted in 1796 by the Lombard patriots and became the symbol of freedom and unity. It was sanctioned as National Flag by the Italian Republic in 1802, by the Italic Kingdom in 1804 and by the first King of the Savoia dynasty, Carlo Alberto in March 1848. Since the first time it was adopted, it has remained the symbol of independence from foreign rulers for all Italians, who fought several wars during the period known as the “Risorgimento” until they succeeded in securing freedom and unity.

During the Savoia dynasty the flag had in the center of the white section the emblem of the Savoias: a white cross on red background surrounded by a blue border and surmounted by a crown. Since Italy became a Republic in 1945 the flag has had no emblem. The emblem only appears on the flags of the Navy and the Merchant Navy.

The flag of the Navy has the heraldic emblem of the Navy in the center of the white section: it is a shield divided into four sections, each one representing the crests of the four historical maritime Republics: Venice, Pisa, Genoa and Amalfi. The emblem is surmounted by a turreted and rostrate Crown.

The flag of the Merchant Navy has the same emblem, but no crown. The crest of the Republic of Venice in the Navy flag shows the Lion of St. Mark with a book. The same crest in the Merchant Navy flag shows the Lion of St. Mark with a sword.

The symbolic interpretation of the flags colors represents the three cardinal virtues: Green for Hope, White for faith, and Red for Charity

Courtesy of the Embassy of Italy

www.italiansrus.com/articles/italianflag.htm