The Fourth of July was traditionally celebrated as America's birthday, but the idea of an annual day specifically celebrating the Flag is believed to have first originated in 1885.
Flag Day is a holiday in the United States which celebrates the adoption of the American flag. The holiday is celebrated around the country with parades and memorial services for those who have died in defense of the United States. Like Memorial Day, Flag Day is considered a patriotic holiday, and is particularly celebrated by the Armed Forces and those veterans who have served abroad. Flag Day is celebrated on June 14 each year.
It commemorates the adoption of the flag of the United States, which happened
that day by resolution of the Second Continental Congress in 1777. The United States Army also celebrates the Army Birthday on this date; Congress adopted
"the American continental army" after reaching a consensus position in the Committee of the Whole on June 14, 1775.
June 14th, Flag Day, was not however the first day our flag was hanged
with recognition. In 1977, the Continental Congress suggested that our national
flag be represented by something other than the British Union Jack and so was
selected our fist flag but previously to this official suggestion, Betsy Ross
had already created a version of the American flag. On January 1, 1776, first
flag of the country, the Grand Union, hanged on a flag pole outside of the Continent Army headquarters; George Washington declared the principles behind the design to show the stars to represent the colonies and the separation of red to show America's separation from the rule of Great Britain.
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Flag Day is not an official federal holiday, though on June 14, 1937, Pennsylvania became the first (and only) U.S. state to celebrate Flag Day as a state holiday, beginning in the town of Rennerdale.*** Right outside of Oakdale) Title 36 of the United States Code, Subtitle I, Part A, CHAPTER 1, § 110 is the official statute on Flag Day; however, it is at the President's discretion to officially proclaim the
observance.
So it not totally cool we have Something this cool about 20 minutes from us.
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National Flag Day Facts
The Flag Day is celebrated to commemorate the adoption of national flag of the United States of America, nicknamed Old Glory or Stars and Stripes. The day, i.e., 14th June, marks the anniversary of the official adoption of the American flag by
resolution of the Second Continental Congress in 1777.
The American flag, as we see it today, consists of thirteen horizontal red and white stripes, each representing the thirteen original colonies of the United States, and a blue rectangle with fifty white, five-pointed stars representing the 50 states of the Union.
Its design has undergone 26 modifications since it was adopted in 1777. Back then, the red and white alternating stripes did exist, but the number of stars in the blue rectangle was thirteen, and not fifty, as we see today.
Over the course, a new star was added to the existing lot with the inclusion of every new state to the Union. The number of stars increased to 15 in 1794, 20 by 1818 and the trend continued. The fiftieth star was added with the inclusion of the state of Hawaii to the Union in 1959.
Along with the stars, even stripes were increased to 15 in 1794, but eventually the number was reduced to 13 in 1818. A law was passed stating that the number of stripes on the national flag would remain 13; and these 13 stripes would represent the 13 original colonies.
Though there is no concrete evidence to support this claim, it is widely believed that the first flag was made by Betsy Ross in the late spring of 1776, at the behest of George Washington, and the same was eventually adopted by the Continental Congress after a year.
While the flag was adopted by the Second Continental Congress in 1777, the concept of Flag Day came into existence several decades later. One of the earliest citation of Flag Day celebrations can be traced to 1861, wherein George Morris, hailing from Hartford city, Connecticut, prompted people of this city to celebrate it.
The celebration became a tradition after Bernard J. Cigrand, often referred to as the 'Father of Flag Day', began promoting the same in late 1880s. Cigrand, a grade school teacher, began working for this cause by observing this day at the Stony Hill School, where he used to teach in 1885.
A devout patriot, Cigrand spoke for the respect and honor of the national flag throughout his life. For the noble cause, he was first appointed the president of the American Flag Day Association, and eventually the president of the National Flag Day Society.
In 1893, Elizabeth Duane Gillespie, the president of the Colonial Dames of Pennsylvania, made what was one of the first attempts to pass a resolution on hoisting of the American flag. The resolution put forth by Gillespie, made it mandatory for the public buildings in Philadelphia to fly the American flag on this day.
More of such attempts followed across the country. Even the governor of New York came up with an official order stating that the American flag should be displayed on all public buildings in the city on this day.
Eventually, President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation establishing 14th June as the Flag Day on 30th May, 1916, and, the National Flag Day was established by a Congressional legislation during the presidential term of Harry Truman in August 1949
So, on the next June 14th, our Flag Day, remember when placing your hand to your heart to show gratitude for what we have as being American citizens but to also truly feel what our flag stands for: independence and patriotism brought through some very reflective artwork.
Have a lovely Flag Day,
Cassie @ Cassandra’s FLorals
