The United States flag featured in America250 symbols has 13 stripes.
The alternating red and white stripes represent the thirteen British colonies that declared independence in 1776. The symbolism connects the modern flag directly to the founding-era history commemorated by America250, even though the current flag’s 50 stars represent the states that exist today.
The first national flag resolution, passed by the Continental Congress on June 14, 1777, specified thirteen stripes and thirteen stars. Congress later increased the number of stripes to 15 when Vermont and Kentucky joined the Union. In 1818, lawmakers restored the stripe count to 13 while requiring a new star for each additional state.
This history explains a frequent confusion: the stripes do not equal the number of current states, while the stars do. The stripe count honors the original colonies permanently. Flag Day is observed each June 14, commemorating the 1777 resolution, and Independence Day remains the traditional date for displaying the national flag.