Flag Day: Do You Know The Historical Significance Behind The Holiday?
on Jun 14, 2024
On June 14, we celebrate Flag Day, which marks the adoption of the American flag. Keep reading to learn all about the fascinating history and meaning behind this special day.
What Is Flag Day All About?
Flag Day honors the day the U.S. approved the official design for the nation’s first flag.
Back in 1777, the Continental Congress decided on the design of the flag, with thirteen stripes representing the original thirteen colonies.
According to Military.com, the resolution read:
“Resolved, that the flag of the United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field representing a new constellation. “
Flag Day emphasizes the significance of the American flag as a symbol of our nation’s identity and values.
Listen to Johnny Cash’s powerful song “Ragged Old Flag” this Flag Day to understand the deep meaning behind our celebration of the American flag.
The Birth Of Flag Day
The first celebration of the U.S. Flag’s birthday happened in 1877, marking the 100th anniversary of the Flag Resolution of 1777.
The concept of dedicating a day to honor the national flag has multiple origins, one of which was the efforts of BJ Cigrand, a Wisconsin schoolteacher. He placed a flag into his inkwell and tasked his students with writing essays about what the flag represented to them. He declared the day of June 14 as “Flag Birthday” and later wrote an essay published in a Chicago newspaper that urged Americans to celebrate, too.
This led to the first formal recognition of the holiday in 1885. However, it is also said that George Morris played a role in the first official formal celebration in Hartford, Connecticut, back in 1861, but it seems that the celebrations were never repeated.
Flag Day Becomes Official
Pennsylvania became the first state to establish Flag Day as a legal holiday in 1937, and it became a national holiday in 1949 when Congress approved and President Harry Truman signed the observance of Flag Day on June 14 into law.
Today, it’s celebrated with songs, parades, picnics, and ceremonies, serving as a reminder of the meaning behind the flag and its historical significance.
4 Facts About Flag Day You May Not Know
- Flag Day is celebrated nationwide, but it’s not a federal holiday, so government services remain open.
- Flag Day’s history is over 200 years old.
- Each year, the President designates the week of June 14 as National Flag Week, urging all Americans to proudly display the U.S. flag.
- Pennsylvania is the only state that observes it as a state holiday, allowing residents to stay home from work and school.
Let’s Celebrate!
Flag Day may not be a day off work, but it’s a day to honor the birth of the American flag and what it represents. So, let’s wave those flags high and celebrate the symbol of our country with pride!
Do you know the correct way to retire the American flag?
As a heartfelt way to pay tribute to and celebrate the spirit of our nation, take a moment to listen to Lee Greenwood sing “God Bless The U.S.A.” below from Country Rebel Patriot Sessions.
You can also stream and download the live audio on your favorite music services.
“As an American, we have a very special blessing to be born in a free country…This is a country of faith and started as a country with faith when the 13 colonies first amended the Declaration of Independence. It was all about the Bible, and I want to play you a song that actually wrote 40 years ago at the beginning of my career at MCA, and it’s patriotic, so this is a tribute to my country.”
