Luxe Life Blog
Photos: The revered and respected Red, White and Blue
The Red, White & Blue Never Takes a Holiday by Tom Donoghue.
Photo: Tom Donoghue/DonoghuePhotography.com
The Stars and Stripes! The Red, White and Blue! Old Glory! Whatever we call it, the flag of the United States is revered and respected, and as we get ready to celebrate another Independence Day on Wednesday, we reflect on contributing photographer Tom Donoghue’s portfolio of his precious patriotic portraits shot entirely in and around Las Vegas.
The first flag with just 13 alternate red-and-white stripes and 13 white stars in a blue field dates to June 14, 1777, and several historians believe that Philadelphia seamstress Betsy Ross made it. It was in August 1959 that President Eisenhower made its change for the arrangement of nine rows of stars staggered horizontally and 11 rows of stars staggered vertically.
Old Glory began with just 24 stars and a small anchor because women in Salem, Mass., made it for early 19th century sea captain William Driver. It was the official flag of his whaling vessel, which went around the world in 1831-32. After he retired, he flew it on every patriotic occasion and by 1861 it was modified to show 34 stars. To this day, it is kept safely -- and proudly -- at the Smithsonian.
Symbolically, the flag is a living symbol of the Constitution of the United States and the Bill of Rights embodying the country’s eternal principles of liberty, justice, humanity and American freedom with equality for all.
As we celebrate July 4, 2012, we also will remember the independence of America and the integrity and fearless courage of those in the military who serve us to ensure that freedom and independence.
Flags will be flown all over Las Vegas tomorrow, and as the fireworks roar, we can all salute Old Glory, the Stars and Stripes and the Red White and Blue.
Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.
Follow Robin Leach on Twitter at Twitter.com/Robin_Leach.
Follow Vegas DeLuxe on Twitter at Twitter.com/vegasdeluxe.
Follow VDLX Editor Don Chareunsy on Twitter at Twitter.com/VDLXEditorDon.
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