The 50-star flag has flown the longest of any U.S. flag, and in July it will have flown for 59 years. Twelve presidents have served under this flag. 24/7 Wall Street is a USA TODAY content partner ...

The first two stars from the 1917 edition of the flag are accounted for in City Council records from 1917, but the others are not. The first star represents the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 .

The second National Flag of the Confederacy was issued by the Confederate Congress on May 1, 1863. This flag was designed to have a distinct difference from the Union's Stars and Stripes.

Do The Math 13 Stripes and 51 Stars A mathematician figures out the best way to jam an extra star onto the American flag. Plus: Generate patterns for every possible flag up to 100 stars.