I read a post on another site yesterday that gave the meanings of the colors used in the U.S. Flag.  I began to research the flag and realized the information I had originally read was popular myth rather than truth.  The funny thing is the colors meaning the article said pertained the U, S. Flag in reality belong to the Seal of the USA. (Pictured above)

The flag is a much more common image of our nation than the seal.  But since there is confusion about the meanings of the colors I thought I would help clarify the confusion.

This is how the colors for the U.S. Seal were determined:

On July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress passed a resolution authorizing a committee to devise a seal for the United States of America.

“The colors of the pales (the vertical stripes) are those used in the flag of the United States of America; White signifies purity and innocence, Red, hardiness & valour, and Blue, the color of the Chief (the broad band above the stripes) signifies vigilance, perseverance & justice.”

Chaplains often have to learn to distinguish the difference between what people think is true and what real truth is in various situations.  I thought I would share this example from a non-health care setting so we could see together the wisdom of verifying facts and searching for the meaning behind what we see.  I wish you well on this weekend and hope that you do something to show your thanksgiving for the life we lead here in the USA!