July 4th is a day when Americans celebrate our country by decking out our homes and ourselves in red, white, and blue. But why were these three colors chosen to represent our nations?

In 1776, with America's hard-won battle for freedom behind them, the people of our country wanted a national flag that would symbolize not only their independence, but their spirit of unity. The Continental Congress responded by passing the first "Flag Act" which established the first official flag for our nation.

It stated: "Resolved that the flag of the thirteen United States be thirteen stripes alternate red and white: that the union be thirteen stars, white on a blue field." The significance of the colors was defined thus: White signifies purity and innocence; Red, hardiness and valor; Blue, vigilance, perseverance, and justice.

Our founding fathers recognized the ability of color to communicate meaning, but whether Americans today know the specific significance of the flag colors is not as important as the power of these colors to evoke our patriotic spirit and unify us as a country.

• See more about the meaning, messages and symbolism of the color red, white, and blue.