Star Spangled Spirited Splashes
by Cindi Sutter, Founder & Editor of The Spirited Table®
First things first. Thanks to our Veterans of all wars who've born the burdens of our nation, here, near and far. We can't imagine the sacrifices many of you made. Thanks from a grateful table.
Memorial Day highlights (see below) from our Spirited Table Old Glory reel provided me with a celebratory moment to do some exploring.
Join me on a short walk down the flag flying memory lane of our National symbol. Nicknames for the flag include The Stars and Stripes, Old Glory, and The Star-Spangled Banner.
![The Continental Colors (aka the "Grand Union Flag")](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/522565bee4b0c3db86935016/1464010651329-YC3I4LHZLMSANNWSEH9W/180px-Grand_Union_Flag.svg.png)
![Flag of the British East India Company, 1707–1801](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/522565bee4b0c3db86935016/1464010725118-MKZDFK8SQHRH744NE4UZ/180px-Flag_of_the_British_East_India_Company_%281707%29.svg.png)
![Francis Hopkinson's flag for the U.S. Navy, featuring six-pointed stars arranged in rows](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/522565bee4b0c3db86935016/1464010661461-VJWZSC77GQ0PXFKDX6JS/Star-Spangled_Banner_flag.svg.png)
![13-star so-called "Betsy Ross" variant](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/522565bee4b0c3db86935016/1464010659411-E3R8K8LJMZM048DEFTK5/US_flag_13_stars_%E2%80%93_Betsy_Ross.svg.png)
![The 48-star flag was in use from 1912 to 1959, the second longest-used U.S. flag. The current U.S. flag is the longest-used flag, having surpassed the 1912 version in 2007.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/522565bee4b0c3db86935016/1464010664458-LP8Z0WXYH65S4OKY95I5/US_flag_48_stars.svg.png)
![Oil painting depicting the 39 historical U.S. flags](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/522565bee4b0c3db86935016/1464010657161-EDY3TKL8PX94F4JCMO9H/220px-US_historical_flags-United_States_of_America.jpg)
The current design of the U.S. flag is its 27th; the design of the flag has been modified officially 26 times since 1777. The 48-star flag was in effect for 47 years until the 49-star version became official on July 4, 1959. The 50-star flag was ordered by President Eisenhower on August 21, 1959 and was adopted in July 1960. It is the longest-used version of the U.S. flag and has been in use for over 55 years.
Now, back to our Spiritedly red, white and blue tables and the memories.
Table settings that rock the red, white and blue and fun!
![Memorial Day Flowers](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/522565bee4b0c3db86935016/1464012372497-FA651AKJK8QNP32EOPKA/Ardith_flag_MemorialDay_floraldesign_photo.2.jpg)
![Memorial Day Table Decor](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/522565bee4b0c3db86935016/1464012496268-DTUV4E9S5TYV91CN7NYG/Desi_flag_MemorialDay_tabletop_photo.2.jpg)
![Ardith's Floral Recipe #2](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/522565bee4b0c3db86935016/1464012452679-XRIJYZRUASMMGC6IB143/Ardith_flag_MemorialDay_floraldesign_photo.5.jpg)
The Honor in Memorial Day by Zehorit Heilicher.
To "Not Forget" by Kimberley Thompson
Celebrate, remember and make your own version of a Star Spangled Spirited Splash. Send us your photos, so we can share them with other citizens of the world.