We must obey God rather than men. – Acts 5:29
On this day in 1794, President George Washington signed the Flag Act into law. This law was created to define the U.S. flag’s design and propose adding more stars and stripes, to show the inclusion of Vermont and Kentucky in the republic. U.S. Senator Stephen Bradley of Vermont presented this legislation, which passed in the Senate. However, the idea met with opposition in the House of Representatives since alterations of the flag would then continue each time a territory became a state. Ultimately, Congress yielded. The original 13 stars and stripes were changed to 15 stars and stripes, which would be the only occasion the official U.S. flag did not have 13 stripes. Faced with the admission of five additional states in 1818, the flag design was returned to its original 13 stripes, and has remained so ever since.
As the Lord leads, pray with us…
- For senators and representatives serving in congressional committees as they create legislation, launch investigations, and hold hearings.
- For federal legislators as they debate and discuss legislation crafted to address the needs of the nation.
