FIFTEEN STAR FLAG

The original "Stars and Stripes," which boasted thirteen stars and thirteen stripes, was amended to contain fifteen of each in 1794, to recognize the new states of Vermont and Kentucky. It remained the National Flag for almost a quarter century and through three wars. By 1818, however, several more states had been admitted to the Union. Congress decided to return the flag to the original 13 stripes, but to have the number of stars equivalent to the number of states in the Union.