Red, White, and Blue

Catherine Poole, MFA

Recently I enjoyed one of my favorite days in Middletown, Indiana. It was the parade opening the annual Lion's Club Fair. I become very emotional at parades particularly when the Marines march with the flag and the veteran's follow. Being the "Queen of Color", I tend to view the flag a little differently than most and in this quarter's newsletter I would like to share my thoughts.

First, some flag facts: On July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress passed a resolution authorizing a committee to devise a seal for the United States of America. This mission, designed to reflect the Founding Fathers' beliefs, values, and sovereignty of the new Nation, did not become a reality until June 20, 1782.

My background in graphic design and design history offers insight to the symbolism in heraldic representations, such as seals. Each element has a specific meaning, each color has a specific meaning.

The colors red, white, and blue were not chosen for specific meanings for The Stars and Stripes when it was adopted in 1777. However, the intention of the colors in the Great Seal did require forethought. Charles Thompson, Secretary of the Continental Congress, reporting to Congress on the Seal, stated: "White signifies purity and innocence, Red, hardiness & valor, and Blue . . . vigilance, perseverance & justice."

Red represents change; it is also associated with bloodshed and aggression, which is why we have it as a sign and symbol of danger. Red alerts us to impending change and expected choice. Red is also the color that represents our first chakra, which is all about our foundations of family, tribe and country. Red elevates our blood pressure and prepares us for movement. Roman soldiers wore red not only to intimidate, but so that the enemy would not know if the Roman soldiers were wounded, or where they were wounded. I look at the color and what it represents; but then it is also where the color is placed and how that color is used. The first stripe of the flag is red, as is the final stripe. This communicates that this country is about solidifying freedom for all who reside here and reflects the sacrifice (red IS the color of martyrdom) of many for the freedom of all. It is also protecting our values (white).

White is the color of hope, and putting red and white together within our country's symbol communicates the need to balance. Within our own energetic system, red is at the base (foundations) and white, also known as the "Christ light", at our crown. The number six, which is how many stripes of white are in our flag, represents experience; while the number seven, which is the stripes of red, represents seeking faith and spiritual order.

Blue is truth, loyalty and honesty. White stars of hope unite on a field of truth. As each white five-sided star basks on the beautiful background of blue, it illustrates that each state can make a difference, separately and together. Five represents change. United we make one stand moving in the direction of integrity.

Charles Thompson gives us a beautiful explanation from the year 1777:

"The star is a symbol of the heavens and the divine goal to which man has aspired from time immemorial; the stripe is symbolic of the rays of light emanating from the sun."

So the Red and White stripes of 13 represent the link to the original ground of 13 states on which the nation has been built up; and the stars, representing the union of now 50 states, have been laid on the blue canton to bind all of them with the bond of vigilance, perseverance and justice.

Happy Fourth of July! (Which by the way July 4, 1776 was a "5" day representing change!)

- Catherine Poole, MFA

(This article is from our 2nd Qtr 2006 Newsletter)

Note: See more of Catherine's in-depth analysis of color and how it influences our lives at her website:

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