Flag of the United States

Virgin Islands, the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and American Samoa may eventually become states as well. Some few effects (particularly fire and smoke) within The Curse of the Were-Rabbit proved impossible to do in stop motion, and so were rendered on computer. Other insular areas such as the U.S. There was even an explosion in The Auto Chef, part of the Cracking Contraptions shorts. There are ongoing statehood movements in Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, and New York City. For example, consider the soap suds in the window cleaning scene, and the projectile globs of porridge in Wallace's house. The United States Army's Institute of Heraldry has plans for flags with up to 56 stars using a similar staggered star arrangement in case additional states accede. As with Nick Park's previous films, the special effects achieved within the limitations of the stop motion technique were quite pioneering and ambitious.

(For alternate versions, see this page at Flags of the World.)
. This is probably very much thanks to the global success of Nick Park's Wallace and Gromit shorts and other films such as The Nightmare Before Christmas in the 1990s. In the following table depicting the 27 designs of the United States flag, the star patterns for each flag are merely the usual patterns, with the exception of the 48-, 49-, and 50-star flags, as there was no official arrangement of the stars until the proclamation of the 48-star flag by President William Howard Taft in 1912. Though painstaking and time-consuming, and, with the newer computer-generated imagery, no longer popularly used for feature film special effects as it was in 1933's King Kong or Ray Harryhausen's work, stop motion remains a much-loved style of animation. By the same reports, this arrangement was rejected due to similarity to the British flag. just over one second of film photographed for each day of production. He reportedly originally wanted the stars arranged in four bands, one vertical, one horizontal, and two diagonal. General quotes on the speed of animation of a Wallace and Gromit film put the filming rate at typically around 30 frames per day - i.e.

Another popular theory is that the flag was designed by Francis Hopkinson. Because a second of film constitutes 24 separate frames, even a short half-hour film like A Close Shave takes a long time to animate well. Comparisons between the 2 flags support Fawcett's suggestion. In common with other animation techniques, the stop motion animation in Wallace and Gromit may duplicate frames if there is little motion, and in action scenes sometimes multiple exposures per frame are used to produce a faux motion blur. The British historian Sir Charles Fawcett has suggested that the design of the flag may have been derived from the flag and jack of the British East India Company. After detailed storyboarding, and set and plasticine model construction, the film was shot one frame at a time, moving the models of the characters slightly between to give the impression of movement in the final film. However, no evidence for this theory exists beyond Ross' own records. The Wallace and Gromit animations were shot using the old stop motion animation technique.

A popular story credits Betsy Ross for sewing the first flag from a pencil sketch by George Washington who personally commissioned her for the job.
. flag design is uncertain. In Project Zoo, players exclusively control Gromit, but in Curse of the Were-Rabbit, gameplay shifts between the two, and even includes two-player cooperative play. The origin of the U.S. Gameplay for both titles is reminiscent of any third-person platformer released since the advent of Super Mario 64, with lots of jumping around in three-dimensional levels and collecting items. The flag flew in battle for the first time at Cooch's Bridge in Delaware on September 3, 1777 during the American Revolutionary War. In 2005, a video game of "The Curse of The Were-Rabbit" was released for home consoles, following the plot of the movie as the titular duo work as vermin-catchers, protecting customers' vegetable gardens from rabbits.

Before that, the admission of Alaska in January 1959 prompted the debut of a short-lived 49-star flag. Hiding inside a giant wooden penguin, a parody of the famous Trojan horse, they infiltrate the zoo, and set about rescuing the animals and undoing Feathers' work. Heft's design was chosen, after Hawaii gained statehood in August 1959. A quick spot of inventing back at the house, and they prepare to embark on their latest adventure. The most recent change, from forty-nine stars to fifty, occurred in 1960 when Robert G. As they go to visit the zoo to celebrate his birthday, they find the zoo closed. July 4, Independence Day in the United States, commemorates the founding of the nation. Wallace and Gromit, meanwhile, have adopted one of the zoo's baby polar bears, named Archie.

When the flag design changes, the change always takes place on July 4 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as a consequence of the Flag Act of April 4, 1818. Still obsessed with diamonds, he escapes from the penguin enclosure of West Wallaby Zoo, where he was 'imprisoned' at the end of The Wrong Trousers, and takes over the entire zoo, kidnapping young animals and forcing their parents to work for him, helping him towards his ultimate goal - turning the zoo into a diamond mine. It was the 15-star, 15-stripe flag that inspired Francis Scott Key to write "The Star-Spangled Banner," now the national anthem. This separate story sees the duo take on Feathers McGraw once more. It was ultimately decided that there would be a star for each state, but the number of stripes would remain at thirteen to honor the original colonies. In September 2003, a video game was released, entitled Wallace and Gromit in Project Zoo. As further states entered the union, extra stars and stripes were added until this proved to cause too much clutter.
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Initially, a variety of designs were used, including a circular arrangement (below), but gradually a design featuring horizontal rows of stars emerged as the standard. In a list of the 100 Greatest British Television Programmes drawn up by the British Film Institute in 2000, voted for by industry professionals, The Wrong Trousers was placed 18th. The Flag Resolution did not specify any particular arrangement for the stars. Park has consistently turned down requests for an ongoing television series because of the time and effort required for even a single episode. Tradition holds that the new flag was first hoisted in June of 1777 by the Continental Army at the Middlebrook encampment. Shopper 13 is of note for its references to sci-fi films, and space in general, in most of Wallace's lines:. On June 14, 1777, the Second Continental Congress passed the Flag Resolution which stated: "Resolved, That the flag of the United States be made of thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new Constellation." Flag Day is now observed on June 14 of each year. Each episode features one of Wallace's new inventions and Gromit's sceptical reaction to it.

Since 1937, the District of Columbia has used a flag based on this design. They were also broadcast on BBC One across the Christmas period in 2002. The red-and-white stripe (and later, stars-and-stripes) motif of the flag may have been based on the Washington family coat-of-arms, which consisted of a shield "argent, two bars gules, above, three mullets gules" (a white shield with two red bars below three red stars). A series of 10 short (2½ minute) Wallace and Gromit animations entitled Cracking Contraptions has appeared on the Internet and subsequently on a limited-edition VHS and Region 2 DVD. The Grand Union Flag is the same as the East India Company flag of the same era, although the East India Company flag could have from 9 to 13 stripes. These have been released as extras on DVD alongside the three short films. This flag formed the basis of the Stars and Stripes, consisting of 13 red and white stripes with the British Union Jack in the canton. In addition, following the success of A Close Shave, the duo were used as BBC2's official Christmas campaign in 1995, appearing with the famous '2' in the main ident and several shorter versions for in between trailers.

This flag was initially flown by George Washington and is recorded as being first raised by Washington's troops at Prospect Hill on New Year's Day in 1776. The full-length feature film is:. At the time of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776, the most commonly flown flag was the Grand Union Flag. The original half-hour shorts were:. The current 50-star version will tie the record if it is still in use on July 4, 2007. Wallace and Gromit have appeared in three half-hour films, an ident campaign, a series of short webcast animations, and also appear in a full-length feature film. The 48-star version holds the record, 47 years, for the longest time the flag has gone unchanged.
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The flag has gone through 26 changes since the new union of 13 states first adopted it. The faults were either due to a faulty CCTV system or a faulty water heater. According to Presidential proclamation, Congressional order, and custom, the American flag is displayed continuously at the following locations:. Recent reports have discovered the cause of the fire was an electrical fault in a ground floor office. According to the New York Public Library Desk Reference:. (BBC News: Fire hits Wallace and Gromit sets). the Philippines, also use this method to fold their flags. The films themselves are unharmed having been stored at a separate location.

Former American territories, e.g. Other figures, however, such as Wallace and Gromit travelling in their sidecar, were lost. The final triangle shape result is said to invoke the image of the three-point hats popular during the American Revolutionary War. Some other models survived as they were part of a travelling exhibition at the time. Flags, when not in use, should be folded into a triangle shape. Creator Nick Park released a statement that the original Wallace and Gromit figures were in his suitcase on a world tour with him at the time. Instead, the flag should be moved so it is not touching the ground. On October 10, 2005, a fire at a storage building in Bristol owned by Aardman Animations destroyed most of the props and sets used in the animated films.

Contrary to a commonly believed urban legend, the flag code does not state that a flag that touches the ground should be burned. He also listens to Bach and solves puzzles with ease. In other countries and places, local etiquette applies. "Gromit was originally the name for a cat in another story!" Gromit enjoys eating 'KornFlakes' and reading many books including:. jurisdiction. Nick Park, his creator says: "We are a nation of dog-lovers and so many people have said: 'My dog looks at me just like Gromit does!'" and.. This etiquette is as applied within U.S. Gromit doesn't express himself in words but his facial expressions -- particularly his eyebrow -- speak volumes.

These are guidelines, not laws; there is no penalty for failure to comply with them. He is also very handy with electronic equipment (a grommet is a piece of electrical wiring insulation, a term Nick Park picked up from his brother, an electrician), and is sensitive, intelligent and resourceful. There are certain guidelines for the use and display of the United States flag as outlined in the United States Flag Code of the federal government. He likes knitting, reading the newspaper, his alarm clock, bone, brush and framed photo of himself with Wallace. According to Heft, his teacher did keep to their agreement and changed his grade to an "A" for the project. His birthday is 12th February, and he graduated from "Dogwarts University" (a pun on Hogwarts of the Harry Potter books). Heft's flag design was chosen and adopted by presidential proclamation after Alaska and before Hawaii was admitted into the union in 1959. Gromit is a dog who lives with Wallace.

After discussing the grade with his teacher, it was agreed (somewhat jokingly) that if the flag was accepted by Congress, the grade would be reconsidered. For example, Wallace's method of getting up in the morning incorporates a bed that tips over to wake up its owner, an invention that was exhibited at the Great Exhibition of 1851 by Theophilus Carter, and is similar to a device sold in Japan that is used to ensure a certain wakeup time. He originally received a "B-" for the project. Some of Wallace's contraptions actually are based on a real-life invention. His mother was a seamstress, but forced Heft to do all of the work on his own. Most of Wallace's inventions look not unlike the designs of Rube Goldberg and Heath Robinson, and Nick Park has said of Wallace that all his inventions are designed around the principle of using a sledgehammer to crack a nut. He was 17 years old at the time and did the flag design as a class project. A very homely sort who doesn't mind the odd adventure.".

The current 50-star flag was designed by Robert Heft in 1958 while living with his grandparents in Ohio. Nick Park, his creator says: "He's a very self-contained figure. It gives the colors by reference to "Standard Color Cards of America" maintained by the Color Association of the United States, Inc., as. He has a kindly nature, and is perhaps a little over-optimistic. According to Flags of the World, the colors are specified by the General Services Administration "Federal Specification, Flag, National, United States of America and Flag, Union Jack," DDD-F-416E, dated November 27, 1981. He is an inveterate inventor, creating elaborate Heath Robinson-esque contraptions that often do not work as intended. Presumably E and F are approximations of 7/130 = 0.0[538461], and G and H are approximations of 0.76/12 = 0.06[3]. He reads the Morning Post, the Afternoon Post, and the Evening Post, and occasionally "Ay-Up" magazine.

The specification gives the following values:. He enjoys a nice cup of tea or a drop of Bordeaux red for those special occasions. The design of the flag is specified by United States Code title 4, chapter 1, section 1 [1]. The thought of Lancashire hotpot keeps him going in a crisis. A book about the flag published by the Congress in 1977 gives further symbolism for the flag:. He loves cheese - preferably Wensleydale cheese. ^{[USGov 4]}. He can usually be found wearing a white shirt, brown wool trousers, green knitted vest and red tie.

Reid suggested that the number of stripes be set at thirteen to represent the original 13 colonies and that only the number of stars be set to the number of states. Wallace lives at 62 West Wallaby Street, Wigan, Lancs [1]. Naval Captain Samuel C. . During the debate that eventually resulted in the Flag Act of 1818, U.S. Wallace is voiced by veteran actor Peter Sallis; Gromit remains silent. However, this became unwieldy as states were added to the union. Wallace is an absent-minded inventor, cheese enthusiast (especially for Wensleydale cheese), and companion to the dog Gromit who appears to be rather more intelligent than his master.

Originally, both the number of stripes and the number of stars were supposed to represent the number of states. This process is sometimes known as "claymation". Thomson. All the characters were made from moulded Plasticine modelling clay on wire frames, and filmed with stop motion animation. Rather, the meanings were a matter of contemporary fashion and personal preference on the part of Mr. Wallace and Gromit are the main characters in a series of three British animated short films and a feature-length film by Nick Park of Aardman Animations. Meanings were attached to the colors (which, contrary to popular misinformation, is not part of any of the rules of heraldry). The program is "When Penguins Turn", suggesting thats how Feathers Macgraw turned evil.

However, on June 20, 1782, Charles Thomson, the secretary of the Continental Congress, gave a report to the Congress defining the new Great Seal of the United States. During the telly scope episode, the telly (television) is on the wrong program. When the Second Continental Congress proposed the Flag Resolution on June 14, 1777, there was no particular symbolism attached to the colors or their arrangement on the flag. "The Edam is stranded! Quick Gromit, We'll have to launch the probe!". Some groups concerned by these actions have proposed a Flag Burning Amendment that would give Congress the authority to outlaw burning the flag in disrespect or protest. "I knew he'd make it!". Burning the flag has also been used as a deliberate act of disrespect (flag desecration), at times to protest actions by the United States government, or sometimes in displays of anti-Americanism overseas. "It's just one small step!".

Then the three pieces are typically placed on a pyre as "Taps" is played. "It's almost due for re-entry! I can see him!". The flag is cut into three pieces: first a horizontal cut is made between the seventh and eighth stripes, then a vertical cut separating the star field from the seven shorter stripes. "Gromit, we have a problem!". The approved method of destroying old and tattered flags consists of burning them in a simple ceremony. The Soccamatic'. Declaration of Independence. The Snoozatron.

Perhaps most of all they see it as a symbol of individual and personal liberty like those put forth in the U.S. The Turbo Diner. Constitution and its Bill of Rights. The 525 Crackervac. They have seen it as representing all of the freedoms and rights guaranteed in the U.S. The Bully Proof Vest. citizens, their flag symbolizes many things. The Snowmanotron.

To many U.S. The Tellyscope. war dead. A Christmas Cardomatic. On Memorial Day it is common to place small flags by war memorials and next to the graves of U.S. The Autochef. Many institutions, and some homeowners, display the flag year-round, while some reserve flag display for civic holidays like Memorial Day, Veteran's Day, Presidents' Day, Flag Day and the Fourth of July. Shopper 13.

. Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005). flag is described as "A banner Gules, 6 bars Argent; the canton Azure charged with 50 mullets Argent.". A Close Shave (1995, won BAFTA Best Animation, won Oscar Best Short Film, Animated). In blazons (a vexillological description using flag terminology), the U.S. The Wrong Trousers (1993, won BAFTA Best Animated Film, won Oscar Best Short Film, Animated). The United States flag is commonly called the "the Stars and Stripes" or "Old Glory," with the latter nickname coined in 1831 by Captain William Driver, a Salem, Massachusetts shipmaster. A Grand Day Out (1989, won BAFTA Best Animated Film, nominated for Oscar Best Short Film, Animated).

The 50 stars on the flag represent the 50 states and the 13 stripes represent the 13 original colonies. pogrom). The flag of the United States consists of 13 equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white, with a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing 50 small, white, five-pointed stars arranged in nine offset horizontal rows of six stars (top and bottom) alternating with rows of five stars. Interestingly, Gromit happens to mean “destroy” (Russian: громить, cf. Rectangle of stars: 48, 35, 30, 28, 24, 20. [2]. Chessboard pattern: 51, 50, 49, 45, 15, 13 (standard). The other new prototype is named "K-9".

No symmetry: 43. NASA has now named one of its new prototype Mars explorer robots after Gromit. Both, hence also point symmetry: 50, 48, 46, 45, 44, 37, 36, 34, 33, 32, 28, 26, 24, 20, 15, 13 (standard). Many critics believe that Gromit's silence makes him the perfect straight man with a pantomime expressiveness that drew favourable comparisons to Buster Keaton. Symmetry with respect to vertical axis: 51, 50, 48, 46, 45, 44, 37, 36, 35, 34, 33, 32, 31, 30, 29, 28, 27, 26, 25, 24, 23, 21, 20, 15, 13 (standard and Betsy Ross). Sheep. Symmetry with respect to horizontal axis: 50, 49, 48, 46, 44, 38, 37, 36, 34, 33, 32, 30, 28, 26, 24, 20, 15, 13 (standard). Electronics For Dogs.

It is assumed however that Apollo 11's flag was knocked down by the force of return to lunar orbit. Men are from Mars, Dogs are from Pluto (a pun on Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus);. In addition, the American flag is presumed to be in continual display on the surface of the Earth's Moon, having been placed there by the astronauts of Apollo 11, Apollo 12, Apollo 14, Apollo 15, Apollo 16, and Apollo 17. Crime and Punishment, by Fido Dogstoevsky (a pun on Fyodor Dostoevsky);. By custom, at Mount Moriah Cemetery in Deadwood, South Dakota. The Republic, by Pluto (a pun on Plato);. By custom, at the United States Capitol since 1918.

By custom, at the plaza in Taos, New Mexico, since 1861. By custom, at the Worcester, Massachusetts war memorial. By custom, at the home, birthplace and grave of Francis Scott Key, all in Maryland. Washington Camp Ground, part of the former Middlebrook encampment, Bridgewater, New Jersey, Thirteen Star Flag, by Act of Congress.

First raised July 4, 1917.[2]. Mount Slover limestone quarry (Colton Liberty Flag), in Colton, California (Act of Congress). Grounds of the National Memorial Arch in Valley Forge State Park, Valley Forge, Pennsylvania (Public Law 94-53, approved July 4, 1975). By order of Richard Nixon at United States Customs Service Ports of Entry that are continuously open (Presidential Proclamation No.4131, May 5, 1972).

4064, July 6, 1971, effective July 4, 1971). (Presidential Proclamation No. Flags are displayed continuously at the Washington Monument, Washington, DC. Fifty U.S.

The White House, Washington, DC (Presidential Proclamation No.4000, September 4, 1970). Lexington, Massachusetts Town Green (Public Law 89-335, approved November 8, 1965). 3418, June 12, 1961). United States Marine Corps War Memorial (Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima), Arlington, Virginia (Presidential Proclamation No.

Flag House Square, Albemarle and Pratt Streets, Baltimore, Maryland, 15-star/15-stripe flag (Public Law 83-319, approved March 26, 1954). 2795, July 2, 1948). Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine, Baltimore, Maryland, 15-star/15-stripe flag (Presidential Proclamation No. flag.

Only the United Nations flag and a Navy chaplain's church pennant may be flown higher than the U.S. In a display of multiple flags, the American flag should be at the center of and above the other flags. Capitol flies over the body in session (House or Senate) and remains there, lit, day and night. The flag at the U.S.

When the flag is completely folded, only a triangular blue field of stars should be visible. The triangular folding is continued until the entire length of the flag is folded in this manner. Turn the outer end point inward, parallel to the open edge, to form a second triangle. Make a triangular fold by bringing the striped corner of the folded edge to meet the open top edge of the flag.

Fold the flag again lengthwise with the blue field on the outside. Fold the lower half of the stripe section lengthwise over the field of stars, holding the bottom and top edges securely. To properly fold the flag, begin by holding it waist-high with another person so that its surface is parallel to the ground. It should not be lowered into the grave.

When used to cover a casket or coffin, the flag should be placed with the union at the head and over the left shoulder. flag is otherwise flown at half-staff (or half-mast, on ships) when directed by the President of the United States or a state governor. The U.S. The flag is to be flown at half-staff in mourning for designated, principal government leaders.

On Memorial Day, the flag is displayed at half-staff until noon and at full staff from noon to sunset. The flag is to be raised again to the peak for a moment before it is lowered. To place the flag at half-staff (or half-mast, on ships), hoist it to the peak for an instant and lower it to a position half way between the top and bottom of the staff. The salute is directed to the flag, if displayed, otherwise to the music.

When the national anthem is played or sung, citizens should stand at attention and salute at the first note and hold the salute through the last note. The Pledge of Allegiance should be rendered by standing at attention, facing the flag, and saluting. Members of organizations in formation salute upon command of the person in charge. Citizens not in uniform salute by placing their right hand over the heart and men with head cover should remove it and hold it to left shoulder, hand over the heart.

Those in uniform give the appropriate formal salute. To salute, all persons come to attention.