Today marks the 235th anniversary of the adoption of the nation's flag! Here are some interesting facts about the origins of Flag Day.
Timeline of Flag Day
- June 14, 1777 – Congress adopts the Stars and Stripes as the flag of the U.S.
- June 14, 1885 – Bernard J. Cigrand, a Wisconsin teacher, placed a 10-inch, 38-star flag in a bottle on his desk and assigned essays on the flag and its significance.
- June 14, 1891 – The Betsy Ross House in Philadelphia hosts a Flag Day celebration.
- May 30, 1916 – President Woodrow Wilson issues a proclamation calling for a nationwide observance of Flag Day.
- Aug. 3, 1949 – President Harry Truman signs an Act Of Congress designating the 14th day of June every year as National Flag Day.
- June 14, 2004 – The 108th U.S. Congress votes unanimously on H.R. 662 that Flag Day originated in Ozaukee County, WI.
Red, White and Blue Meaning
- The stripes represent the 13 original colonies.
- The 50 stars represent the number of states.
- The colors of the flag have meaning as well: Red symbolizes Hardiness and Valor; White symbolizes Purity and Innocence; Blue represents Vigilance, Perseverance and Justice.
- The flag should be displayed from sunrise to sunset. If the flag is displayed at night it should be illuminated.
- Never allow the flag to touch the ground or the floor.
- When displayed on a wall or window the union (stars) should be in the upper left corner.
- The flag should be raised quickly and lowered ceremoniously.
- The flag is often flown at half-staff to show respect for someone who has died. When flown at half-staff, the flag should be raised to the top for an instant and then lowered to the half-staff position. The flag should also be raised to the top before it is lowered at the end of the day.
Happy Flag Day!
From Everyone at Carolina Heating & Air Design
Facts for this blog provided by National Flag Day Foundation, USFlag.org, PBS: America Responds, and dearborn.patch.com. Please visit their sites for more detailed information.
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