We continued our family tradition of heading to Kingston, Washington, for the 4th of July parade. Though, instead of watching, we participated in this year's parade. We marched down the main street holding a 15 stars and 15 stripes historical flag, Cuzco included, as we tossed candy and waved to the crowd. Brock was dressed as Abraham Lincoln, Dane as a colonial boy, and Maddy as Lady Liberty.

In 1794, President George Washington signed the law adding two stars and two stripes to the U.S. flag, after Vermont and Kentucky joined the union. This was the only U.S. flag ever officially to have more than 13 stripes. The Star-spangled Banner that flew over Ft. McHenry, near Baltimore, which inspired Francis Scott Key to write the poem which was put to music to form our national anthem, had 15 stripes. Resident James Monroe signed a law in 1818 that specified 13 stripes, with a new star to be added on July 4 of any year after a new state was added, a practice which has held through our current 50-star, 13-stripe flag.

Lady Liberty Maddy as photographed by the Kitsap Sun newspaper.

Cuzco and family waiting for the parade to start.