San Antonio Area Council of Girl Scouts
I Am America! Patch

Brownies: complete 4 activities including 3 starred (*)
Juniors: complete 6 activities, including 4 starred (*)
Cadettes & Seniors: complete 8 activities, including 5 starred (*)

* 1. Practice folding an American flag. Teach others how to fold the flag.

2. For a community service project, perform a flag ceremony for an organization outside of Girl Scouting. (i.e. - PTA, American Legion, community event, etc.)

3. Attend a flag ceremony performed by another group (someone other than the Girl Scouts if possible). Discuss what was the same. What was different? How can you use the new things you have learned?

* 4. Find out the following about the American flag. Using any medium (crayons, markers, construction paper, paint, etc.), create an accurate replica of the United States flag of today.
What do the red, white and blue colors stand for?
What do the 13 stripes represent?
What do the stars represent, how many are there, and when are they added to the union of the flag?

5. Write a poem about the flag. What does it mean to you? Ask those close to you (your family or friends) what it means to them. ** OR ** Make something to show your patriotic spirit. This may be a decoration, craft, piece of jewelry, hair barrette, pin, or other item. Wear or display your item proudly!

6. Design a troop flag. Have each troop member contribute an idea for the design and/or bring something to use in making the flag. Share your finished flag with another group and explain why you chose the colors and symbols you used.

* 7. From 1795 to 1818, there was something very different about the American flag. Find out what it was and why it was changed. Then answer/complete the following:
If Congress had continued with it's original idea, how many stars and stripes would the flag have?
Using two pieces of paper that are the same size, draw a picture of a flag with that many stars and stripes and then a picture of the flag with the 13 stripes it has today. Compare the two drawings.
If each stripe was I inch wide, how big would the flag be if Congress had continued with it's original idea? Find an area large enough to stake out the dimensions and compare it to a flag with 13 stripes.
Why do you think the Congress changed it's mind?

8. Choose a state and:
draw a picture of that state's flag
find out what the colors and emblems of the state flag symbolize
find out when the state was admitted to the Union
when would the star representing that state have been added to the canton of the American flag.

* 9. Flag Day, Memorial Day, 4th of July, and Veteran's Day are all patriotic holidays. With your group, choose a patriotic day and find out why we celebrate it. Plan a ceremony to raise and lower the flag at your **Girl Scout ouncil, church, or school, etc. on a patriotic holiday (or any day).. Make sure to make arrangements and get proper authorization.

10. Learn how to properly retire/destroy a worn or tattered flag. Locate a business or establishment with a worn flag. Hold a fund-raiser or solicit a donation to replace their flag. Plan a ceremony to dedicate the new flag and to properly retire the worn and tattered flag.

*11. Find out how and when the flag should be displayed. What happens in inclement weather or darkness? How should the flag be raised and lowered? Find out the correct way to reeve (raise) and retire a flag to be flown at half-staff. Care for the flag at your school or a public institution for a period of time (at least one week). Make arrangements with the administration to raise and lower the flag regularly and see that it is cared for properly. If possible, make any necessary repairs or improvements that may be needed to the flag area.

12. Find out who wrote the Star-Spangled Banner and when. Sing all 4 verses of the Star-Spangled Banner with your troop. Learn and sing some other patriotic songs.

13. Find out what changes have been made to the Pledge of Allegiance. The pledge of allegiance is a type of vow. What other types of vows or pledges have you made. What do the Pledge of Allegiance and the Girl Scout Promise have in common? Discuss what it means if a vow is broken. Discuss what the parts of the Pledge mean to you.

14. Learn the Pledge of Allegiance in sign language.

15. Find out what the parts of the flag are called. Draw a picture and show each of the following:

Canton Fly Field (or Ground) Fly End Hoist Finial

Truck Flag Staff Halyard Grommet Peak Union

Resource: all information needed to complete the above patch requirements can be found in the "I Am America!" Flag Book available in the SAACGS Resource Center or Girl Scout Shop. If you are interested in this patch program and would like to order the book ($3.50) and/or patches ($1.25each), please contact The San Antonio Area Council of Girl Scouts at (210) 349-2404 or sagscout@flash.net