14 June 2024: National
Today, Americans across the country are celebrating Flag Day, a day dedicated to honoring the United States flag and the values it represents. Observed annually on June 14, Flag Day commemorates the adoption of the Stars and Stripes as the official flag of the United States in 1777.
Historical Importance
Flag Day’s history dates back to June 14, 1777, when a resolution defining the new nation’s flag’s design was approved by the Second Continental Congress. The resolution stated: “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.”
Wisconsin educator Bernard J. Cigrand first suggested the idea of having Flag Day celebrations in 1885. Over the years, various states and localities adopted the observance. President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation in 1916 officially establishing June 14 as Flag Day, but it wasn’t until August 3, 1949, that Congress designated the day as National Flag Day.
What federal holiday is Flag Day?
Since Flag Day is not a federal holiday, banks, schools, and federal offices are open as usual. However, it is a national observance, and many states and localities hold events and ceremonies to honor the flag. The week of June 14 is designated as National Flag Week, during which Americans are encouraged to display the flag and participate in patriotic activities.
How to Fly the American Flag Correctly
Honoring and being a patriot is represented by flying the American flag with pride. Here are some guidelines to ensure the flag is honored appropriately:
- Placement and Position:
- The U.S. flag should be at the highest point and in the center when it is displayed alongside another flag.
- The flag should be positioned to the right of the speaker when they are on the platform. Any other flag should be placed to the speaker’s left.
- The union, which is the blue field with stars, should be at the top and to the flag’s own right (observer’s left) when it is hung vertically or horizontally on a wall.
- Elevating and Declining:
- It is customary to hoist the flag quickly and lower it with ceremony.
- If it is not an all-weather flag, it should not be flown during bad weather.
- Compassionate Management:
- The flag must never come into contact with the ground or be used as drapes, bedding, or apparel.
- An appropriate method to retire a flag that has become worn or tattered is to burn it.
- Half-Staff Arrangement:
- As instructed by the President, the flag is flown at half staff to honor and grieve the passing of important members of the US government as well as others.
- On Memorial Day, the flag is displayed at half-staff until noon and then raised to the top of the staff.
Celebrations and Activities Across the Nation
Flag Day will be observed nationwide with parades, flag-raising ceremonies, and patriotic events in local communities. Schools often engage students with lessons about the flag’s history and significance. Local veterans’ groups and civic organizations will host events to honor the flag and the freedoms it represents.
Flag Day serves as a poignant reminder of the enduring symbols of freedom and democracy embodied in the American flag. As we display the Stars and Stripes today, we reflect on the principles of liberty and justice that define our nation.
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