Foo - American history buffs--flag question

Seeing the Breton flags in today's TDF stage makes me wonder if there is a connection between their regional flag and our American flag. I realize that the original few American flags had the stars in a circular pattern, but what is now the American flag bears a clear resemblance to the Breton flag, aside from the obvious color difference.

I don't recall from my grade school social studies classes, but is there a connection between the two? Does it have anything to do with paying some homage to the Frenchies help in our Revolutionary War?

Yes, I'm sure I could have googled this, but then I wouldn't be giving you all an opportunity to look really smart. ;)

Looks like it was the other way around:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Brittany

Okay, so I googled it for you... :p

That particular flag is, apparently, a lot newer than the American flag.

http://www.geobreizh.com/breizh/fra/drapeaux-gwennhadu-en.asp
http://www.crwflags.com/FOTW/FLAGS/fr-bz.html

Read up; if I posted more, I'd only be quoting/plagiarizing. ;)

I can understand the assumption by the OP, too -- there are so many things in Europe that are many times older than the U.S. (heck, I've seen gardens that are older), it wouldn't be unusual to have yet another flag whose design originated there and was adapted here.

Very interesting. History is full of nice twists like this. I wish I could keep them all straight (guess I'm just doomed never to master them. Which, it seems, qualifies me to be President. Sorry, Pcad, you're going down.)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_the_United_States

The Flag Resolution did not specify any particular arrangement, number of points, nor orientation for the stars.