WHY 5-Pointed Stars On The U.S. Flag ???

[Robin Hickman]

.
I hope you all don't mind, but I have a very simple and basic question to ask about the National Flag (Ensign) of the United States of America.

I don't recall seeing the question and/or answer anywhere here on this site or elsewhere, nor do I have a memory seeing anything about it anywhere else. Yet it seems so elementary that SOMEBODY must have asked about it and gotten an answer!

I mean SOMEBODY must have asked it sometime, somewhere, even if they didn't receive an answer to it. If they did, I don't remember seeing it. And what's even WORSE (not to mention embarrassing!), is that I don't know the answer!!!

Anyway, here's the question.


WHY do the Stars on (in) the United States' Flag have FIVE (5) points ???


See? A real simple and basic question about our Nation's Flag.



Robin Hickman
Eugene, Oregon, USA
.

[NAVA1974]

. WHY do the Stars on (in) the United States' Flag have FIVE (5) points ???
.

Because the drawing that accompanies President Eisenhower's Executive Order on the flag shows 5 pointed stars!!

What? That didn't answer your question? Oh. Sorry.

How about the fact that 5 is the fewest number of points you can have to turn the symbol from a "cross" to a "star" and that this minimalist design is important if you are trying to identify it flying from a ship miles away? Take a look at our nation's coins until the early 20th Century. The stars all had 6 points, not 5.

As you know, proponents of the Betys Ross legend claim that she showed General Washington how easy it was to make a 5-pointed star.

If you look at David Martucci's page on early illustrations of our flag you will see quite a variety of designs in the stars and other elements: THE 13 STARS AND STRIPES: A SURVEY OF 18TH CENTURY IMAGES

That's enough random musings for one evening.

Nick A
Columbia Maryland