The image of the "rising sun" was a common one in 18th century America--as a motif in furniture design, for example. There's a well known story of Benjamin Franklin looking at the design on the back of a chair at the Continental Congress (or was it the Constitutional Convention?) and deciding that it was of a rising sun rather than a setting one.

The image of the rising sun gave its name to a tavern in Northeastern Maryland--now the town of Rising Sun, MD.

--Charlie Baum