History of Flag Day

posted in: Holidays | 0

Flag day falls on June 14th.  But what is flag day? 

This day commemorates the adoption of the flag of the United States.  In 1777, the Second Continental Congress passed a resolution to adopt a flag representing the United States of America. 

Tradition holds that the first flag was hoisted in June 1777 at the Middlebrook encampment by the continental army.

The early years of American Independence featured many different flag styles that were individually crafted.

Francis Hopkinson, a New Jersey delegate that signed the Declaration of Independence, claimed to design the 1777 flag.    

Of course, this contradicts the legend of Betsy Ross designing the first flag.  A legend that has never been corroborated.

The original flag had 13 stars and stripes on it to represent the 13 original colonies.  As states have been added to the union, a star has been added to the flag.

In December 1860 we were on the eve of the Civil War.  Major Robert Anderson moved his troops to Fort Sumter in the Charleston harbor.  The flag soon took on a new symbolism and for the first time was mass produced.  Adam Goodheart stated that during this time the flag became “strips of cloth that millions of people would fight for, and many thousands die for.”

President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation that officially established June 14th as Flag Day in 1916.  However, it was not until August 1949 that an act of Congress established a National Flag Day.

Today our flag proudly displays 50 stars waving brightly.  The flag of the United States is one of the nation’s most widely recognized symbols.  In moments of grief and tragedy, as well as moments of celebration and patriotism we proudly display the flag.

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