Thursday is Flag Day, celebration of the American Flag. So in honor of that, we present five things to know about this day of honoring one of the national emblems of the United States.
Information from The National Flag Day Foundation.
- 1885—The first Flag Day celebration was June 14, 1885, when a 19-year-old teacher assigned essays on the flag and its significance. This was to commemorate the adoption of the Stars and Stripes as the flag on June 14, 1777.
- 1916—It wasn't until then that President Wilson officially declared Flag Day as a national holiday, and an Act of Congress concerning the day was officially signed by President Truman in 1949.
- Americanism Center Avenue of Flags—The foundation's building, which opened around 1995, has all 27 star configurations of the flag.
- Memorial—A memorial was officially erected to that 19-year-old teacher, Bernard Cigrand, to remember him for instigating this national celebration.
- Wisconsin—The holiday was first celebrated in Waubeka, Wisconsin, and the city celebrates every year with a parade that includes bands, military units, scouts and 4-H members.
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