Close examination of the flag's Fibers revealed several problems. Chemical exposure and actions like bending, crushing is, and rubbing degrades the fibers and makes fibers more susceptible to breaking. Tiny Bite marks have appeared in the Flag's wool, caused by insects such as Carpet Beetles. Dust removed by vacuuming has revealed that even the dust is hostile, carrying deadly pollution.

The Flag has been hung and folded many times, and probably will not sustain much more hangings. In the 1940's, The flag was folded into a compact form for The Smithsonian's Arts and Industries building, as seen at this address: http://web8.si.edu/nmah/htdocs/ssb-old/7_preserving/gfx/7c2_main_l.gif As you can see, the Banner is folded in half, and with support so that it doesn't sag. It has also been shown so that the stars are facing the left, so that visitors may view the upside-down red letter "V" sown into the flag, and the damage from the battle of Fort Henry. Later, The Flag code declared that that was an incorrect way to show a flag, and was righted. The Flag has also been hung from top to bottom in Flag Hall without violation of the flag code.

                                              Created by,

                                                        Kevin Erick, and Ian,
                             
Works Cited

Special Thanks to the Smithsonian Institute for information about the Star-Spangled Banner.

"Conservation Notes."  URL:  http://www.historychannel.com/cgi-bin/frameit.cgi?p=http%3A//www.historychannel.com/starspangled_archive/activities/authentic.html
"History Channel."  URL:  http://www.historychannel.com/cgi-bin/frameit.cgi?p=http%3A//www.historychannel.com/starspangled_archive/activities/authentic.html
"Restoration of the Star Spangled Banner."  URL:  http://www.si.edu/resource/faq/nmah/starflag.htm.   
"Save America's Treasures - Official Projects."  URL:  http://saveamericastreasures.org/projects.htm.
"Star-Spangled Banner"   URL:  http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2001/07/0702_flagpreservation.html.
"Star-Spangled Banner Restoration."  URL:  http://www.sltrib.com/specials/krt/ssbs/html/3a.htm.

"The Star-Spangled Banner."  URL:  http://web8.si.edu/nmah/htdocs/ssb-old/7_preserving/7d_project/fs7d.html.