Stars & Stripes Forever: The History, Stories, and Memories of Our American Flag

The ubiquitous appearance of American flags after September 11 and the recent hanging of a flag by a soldier over the face of a statue of Saddam Hussein in Baghdad testify to the continuing significance of this emblem to Americans. In this compact cultural history, Schneider, the author of similar books about the Statue of Liberty and Taps, covers both the history and the lore of the flag, including its creation (Congress officially adopted it on June 14, 1777), the Pledge of Allegiance (initiated by the inspirational children's magazine The Youth's Companion in 1892, the 400th anniversary of Columbus's fateful voyage) and little-known facts (""it is permitted to fly the American flag upside down--but only in an emergency"" as a kind of SOS). This is inspiring reading, just in time for Flag Day (June 14.) Illus.