Betsy Ross

Seamstress. Designer. Businesswoman. Mother of seven. Quaker. How are these words all alike? They all describe Betsy Ross.

It is said that Betsy made the first flag, but we may never know for sure. We know that she sat on the bench in church with George Washington. She sewed buttons on his coats. She was the niece of George Ross, one of the men who signed the Declaration of Independence. Betsy also had a large sewing business in her town.

Betsy changed the original design of the flag. She made a better size and shape for the stars. She felt the stars should be in a circle. Each one should have five points, not six. The first flag had 13 stars in a circle for the 13 Colonies. Today there are 50 states and fifty stars. The colors and meaning of the flag have stayed the same. It is our symbol to the world. When people see our flag, they think of America. Hopefully, many people also think of the famous American who made it.