48 Star Flag-1912
On the morning of 28 February 1945, a platoon of Marines climbed to the top of recently captured Mount Suribachi on the southern tip of Iwa Jima. They planted a small 48-star Flag. Navy command on the beach below wanted a larger Flag flown. So that afternoon another platoon of Marines raised a larger Flag. The second Flag raising on Mount Suribachi was captured by Joe Rosenthal in what became one of the most iconic photos in American history.
During World War II Flag sales hit record numbers. Flag makers could not keep up with demand and due to material shortages, Flags sizes were restricted.
The 48-star Flag became official on July 4th, 1912, by way of an executive order of President Taft. This order also, for the first time specified the dimensions of the Flag and prescribed a lay out for the stars.
The 48-star Flag flew during some of the most important events in the nation’s history. It was carried by servicemen in two world wars and the Korean War. It was a symbol of hope during the Great Depression. The 48-star Flag was the official Flag for 47 years.
Sources:
Calabro, Marian. “Annin Flagmakers: An Illustrated History” pp. 29-30, (2013) Corporate History.net LLC https://annin.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Annin_History_Book.pdf
Furlong, William and McCandless, Byron. “So Proudly We Hail, The History of the United States Flag” pp. 212-214, (1981) Smithsonian Institution Press
Lowery, Luis. “First flag set atop Mt. Suribachi” (1945) Photograph. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division https://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2003668301/
National Museum of the United Stares Navy “Iwo Jima and Mt. Suribachi” Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved 2 November 2024 from https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/museums/nmusn/explore/photography/wwii/wwii-pacific/iwo-jima/iwo-jima-mt-suribachi.html
National Parks Service “Harry Truman and the 48-Star Flag” Harry S. Truman. Retrieved 23 October 2024 from https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/harry-truman-and-the-48-star-flag.htm#:~:text=During%20the%20Truman%20Administration%20%281945-1953%29%2C%20the%20flag%20that,while%20their%20loved%20ones%20went%20into%20battle%20overseas.
Paridon, Seth. "Col. Dave Severance, E Company 28th Marines" (2020) The National World War II Museum. Retrieved 27 October 2024 from https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/col-dave-severance-e-company-28th-marines
Rosenthal, Joe “Flag raising on Iwo Jima” (1945) Photo. Associated Press, National Archives Identifier 520748
Taft, William. “Executive Order 1556: Authorizing Proportions of All National Flags and Union Jacks for Departments of Government” (1912)