Red! Split second. The darker stripes outline the lighter ones to make sure they stay clean. I grew up very military and there is a great reverence for the flag, and all for which it stands.

Why are they the color they are is another good question.

Yup....agreeing with red and it was a no-brainer for me (former military).

The stripes were set up as alternating colors (red/white) to represent the original 13 colonies. The flag has always been red/white/blue. I'd have to go back and look up flag history to confirm when the 13 stripes became the flag base but it's been around for at least 100 years....maybe early 1900s.

Yep---everything dees said.