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July 4 Is Always a Star-Spangled-Banner Day for Old Glory. Celebrate With These 15 Images of the American Flag

Nothing symbolizes the promise of the nation like the stars and stripes flapping valiantly in the blue sky. As we approach the country’s 250th anniversary, this collection offers a moment of reflection

OPENER - An illuminated American flag display casts its colors onto passing cars, merging national symbolism with New York City’s constant flow of people and light.
OPENER - An illuminated American flag display casts its colors onto passing cars, merging national symbolism with New York City’s constant flow of people and light.
An illuminated American flag display casts its colors onto passing cars, merging national symbolism with New York City’s constant flow of people and light. Yoshinori Sawa, New York, 2024

July 4 Is Always a Star-Spangled-Banner Day for Old Glory. Celebrate With These 15 Images of the American Flag

Nothing symbolizes the promise of the nation like the stars and stripes flapping valiantly in the blue sky. As we approach the country’s 250th anniversary, this collection offers a moment of reflection

Photographs selected by

OPENER - An illuminated American flag display casts its colors onto passing cars, merging national symbolism with New York City’s constant flow of people and light.
An illuminated American flag display casts its colors onto passing cars, merging national symbolism with New York City’s constant flow of people and light. Yoshinori Sawa, New York, 2024
Proudly hailed centuries and several iterations since its introduction, the American flag continues to be a symbol of unity and resilience for citizens of not only the nation but the world. Its 13 stripes represent the original colonies, and it bears a star for each of the 50 states. Songs and poems have been penned in its honor, and American flags—probably bleached white by the sun—are still planted on the moon. Whether waving atop government buildings, folded neatly at the tombs of soldiers or flying over a stadium as thousands of baseball fans sing its origin story, the stars-and-stripes stands as a symbol of what we aim to be. Take a look.
2 - American flags circle the Washington Monument as the setting sun silhouettes nearby tourists.
American flags circle the Washington Monument as the setting sun silhouettes nearby tourists. Agnieszka Wieczorek, Washington, D.C., 2024
3 - An American flag blows in the wind at Federal Hill Park in Baltimore.
A tattered replica of the flag that flew over Fort McHenry in 1814—and inspired the Star-Spangled Banner—blows in the wind in Federal Hill Park in Baltimore. Nicolas Calle, Maryland, 2016 Nicolas Calle, Maryland, 2016
4 - The hands of a World War II veteran grasp an aged and weathered American flag.
The hands of a World War II veteran grasp an aged and weathered American flag. Phyllis Tatum, Tennessee, 2019
5 - A rider carries the flag during the opening ceremony at Williams Ranch Rodeo in Williams, Arizona.
A rider carries the flag during the opening ceremony at Williams Ranch Rodeo in Williams, Arizona. Josef Buergi, Arizona, 2025
6 - An American flag is visible through a broken window pane in San Francisco.
An American flag is visible through a broken window pane in San Francisco. Eugene Reshetov, California, 2021
7. -Retired U.S. Navy Command Master Chief Mack Ellis embraces an American flag following his reading of “I Am the Flag,” a 1994 poem written by U.S. Marine Howard Schnauber, at a Memorial Day event near Jacksonville, Florida.
Retired U.S. Navy Command Master Chief Mack Ellis embraces an American flag following his reading of “I Am the Flag,” a 1994 poem written by U.S. Marine Howard Schnauber, at a Memorial Day event near Jacksonville, Florida. John Merriam, Florida, 2023
8 - A large American flag drapes a modest barn in the Palouse area of Washington.
A large American flag drapes a modest barn in the Palouse area of Washington. Linda Lucas, Washington, 2020
9 - Old Glory wafts in the breeze, sharing the frame with another icon of America, the Statue of Liberty.
Old Glory wafts in the breeze, sharing the frame with another icon of America, the Statue of Liberty. Blair Ramsey, Alabama, 2020
10 - On July 4, an aptly dressed toddler holds an American flag while sporting the perfect red, white and blue romper.
On July 4, an aptly dressed toddler holds an American flag while sporting the perfect red, white and blue romper. Zachary Ray, Massachusetts, 2019
11 - American flags hang from sailboats at the Herreshoff Marine Museum pier during the annual yacht regatta in Bristol, Rhode Island.
American flags hang from sailboats at the Herreshoff Marine Museum pier during the annual yacht regatta in Bristol, Rhode Island. Bern Altman, Rhode Island, 2018
12 - A member of the U.S. Army Golden Knights Parachute Team sails in to help open the Sun ’N’ Fun Aerospace Expo in Lakeland, Florida.
A member of the U.S. Army Golden Knights Parachute Team sails in to help open the Sun ’N’ Fun Aerospace Expo in Lakeland, Florida. Norman Bradney, Florida, 2021
13 - Bales of hay display wrapped in glory sit in a Colorado field during harvest season.
Bales of hay display patriotic wrapped in glory sit in a Colorado field during harvest season. Marjorie Nanian, Colorado, 2024
14 - An American flag is reflected in a window on Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Bay.
An American flag is reflected in a window near on Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Bay. Virginia Hines, California, 2024
15 - A veteran wearing a stars-and-stripes outfit sets a red, white and blue kite aloft at the annual Blossom Kite Festival on the National Mall.
A veteran wears wearing a stars- and- stripes outfit sets and flies a red, white and blue flag kite aloft at the annual Blossom Kite Festival on the National Mall. Agnieszka Wieczorek, Washington, D.C., 2024
Jeff Campagna

Jeff Campagna is a photo editor at Smithsonian magazine. You can follow him on Instagram at @jeffcampagna.

Tracy Scott Forson is a senior editor at Smithsonian magazine.

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