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Flag Day is a day, celebrated on June 14, to commemorate the adoption of the flag of the United States. On that day in 1777, a resolution of the Second Continental Congress made the current flag the symbol of the United States. Although the flag of the United States had been around since the 1700s, Flag Day only became a day of observance in the early 1900s, and an official day of observance in 1949 as an Act of Congress. Today, Flag Day is a time to celebrate the symbol of our nation, as well as to proudly fly the American flag in order to show our patriotism.
The concept and history of Flag Day is thought to have originated in 1885 in Wisconsin schools. A schoolteacher named BJ Cigrand had his students, as well as the rest of the students in the Fredonia, Wisconsin Public School, observe June 14 as “Flag Birthday”. For the next several years, Cigrand publicized his idea through magazines and newspaper articles, calling for the national acceptance of June 14 as a holiday to celebrate the significance of the American flag. Four years later, a schoolteacher in New York City named George Balch planned similar ceremonies for his students on June 14, and the concept of Flag Day was adopted by the State Board of Education of New York.
Perhaps encouraged by Balch’s actions, the Betsy Ross House in Philadelphia had an official Flag Day celebration on June 14, 1891. The following year on June 14, the New York Society of the Sons of the Revolution celebrated Flag Day. By this time, support for a nationally-recognized Flag Day on June 14 was growing, with several important organizations placing their influence behind efforts to get local and state governments to make the day official. For example, the historian of the Pennsylvania Society of the Sons of the Revolution encouraged the Pennsylvania Society of Colonial Dames of America to adopt a resolution on April 25, 1983 that would beseech the mayor and the rest of the city authority to regulate Flag Day celebrations. The resolution called for private citizens as well as government-run fixtures to publicly display the Flag on the 14th of June, as well as naming the day “Flag Day”. It also encouraged schools to organize special assemblies for the students to learn about the history of the American flag.
On May 8th, the resolution was met with success. The Superintendent of Public Schools of Philadelphia at the time ordered that Flag Day exercises and observances be held on June 14 in Independence Square. Each student would carry a small flag, and they would be assembled in the square to sing patriotic songs and to listen to addresses by important public figures. Philadelphia’s actions spread to New York, and in 1894, the governor of New York decided that the American flag would be displayed on all public building on the unofficial Flag Day. Large, influential cities like Chicago followed suit, organizing the first general public celebrations of Flag Day in several parks. More than 300,000 children would participate in the ceremonies, marking a tremendous turnout for the holiday.
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By this point, adults had started to come out in droves to celebrate the day as well, rather than students as directed by the public school systems. Parades and public celebrations were held in the following years, and important public figures at local, state, and national figures would deliver important addresses to large crowds that dealt with the importance of commemorating the American flag as the symbol of the country and everything for which it stands. After three decades of celebrations at various levels and consisting of various numbers of revelers, the holiday was officially established by the Proclamation of President Woodrow Wilson on May 30th, 1916. It was not until 1949, though, that President Truman associated the date of June 14th with National Flag Day.
Today, Flag Day is most often celebrated as part of “National Flag Week”, which falls on the week in which June 14 is contained. The President issues a proclamation which urges the citizens of the United States to proudly fly their flags for the duration of the week. The flag is also displayed on the exterior of all public buildings as part of the government’s effort to encourage Flag Day commemoration.
As far as actual celebrations on June 14, it depends on which part of the country you happen to be located. In most of the country, Flag Day is a reminder to display an American flag outside one’s house, and perhaps an occasion for a barbecue, all the while respecting everything the flag represents. Some places, though, go all out, holding parades and ceremonies to truly capture the spirit that Flag Day has held for so many years. For example, the city of Troy, New York, holds the largest Flag Day parade in the country, funded by public donations and corporate sponsorships. For 41 years running, the parade has existed as an event where people can come to enjoy themselves and celebrate a tradition that dates back more than a hundred years. Other parades are held around the country, too, with patriotic floats, marching bands, decorated vehicles, drum and bugle corps, and veteran’s organizations participating in the event.
The day is also a popular time to hold special observations and ceremonies for veterans across the country because of the patriotic connections that the American flag so intrinsically holds. Whether in honor of the veterans or arranged by the veterans to honor the country for which they sacrificed so much, these types of Flag Day celebrations are solemn reminders of the importance of patriotism and the blessings that we sometimes take for granted as American citizens. In keeping with its historical roots, Flag Day is a great time to educate young ones about the importance of the American flag as a symbol, as well as the significance of everything that it represents. The values of liberty and freedom that the American flag represent do not hold as much significance for youth as they do for the older generation, some of whom may have even fought to preserve these values, so it is a good time to help the children begin to understand just what their country stands for. As with many holidays, Flag Day is also a great time for families to get together. It is conveniently held during the summer, making it a great focal point for celebrations, perhaps including a family reunion or a special barbecue to make the event that much more memorable.
Since 1885, Flag Day has been an important day for Americans to understand the significance of the American flag as a symbol, as well as to grasp everything that the flag represents. Whether your participation in Flag Day celebrations consists of hanging a flag outside your house for the duration of the week, or if you have a hand in organizing one of the many Flag Day events around the country, the day is the perfect time for you to reflect upon what your country means to you, as well as the significance of the sacrifices that have been made in order to allow us liberty and freedom that the flag represents.
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