TODAY, JUNE 14 IS FLAG DAY :: The History Of Flag Day

USFlag.org ^ | June 14 2007 | staff

[Cincinna]

The History Of Flag Day

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. BJ Cigrand, a schoolteacher, arranged for the pupils in the Fredonia, Wisconsin Public School, District 6, to observe June 14 (the 108th anniversary of the official adoption of The Stars and Stripes) as 'Flag Birthday'. In numerous magazines and newspaper articles and public addresses over the following years, Cigrand continued to enthusiastically advocate the observance of June 14 as 'Flag Birthday', or 'Flag Day'.

On June 14, 1889, George Balch, a kindergarten teacher in New York City, planned appropriate ceremonies for the children of his school, and his idea of observing Flag Day was later adopted by the State Board of Education of New York. On June 14, 1891, the Betsy Ross House in Philadelphia held a Flag Day celebration, and on June 14 of the following year, the New York Society of the Sons of the Revolution, celebrated Flag Day.

Following the suggestion of Colonel J Granville Leach (at the time historian of the Pennsylvania Society of the Sons of the Revolution), the Pennsylvania Society of Colonial Dames of America on April 25, 1893 adopted a resolution requesting the mayor of Philadelphia and all others in authority and all private citizens to display the Flag on June 14th. Leach went on to recommend that thereafter the day be known as 'Flag Day', and on that day, school children be assembled for appropriate exercises, with each child being given a small Flag.

Two weeks later on May 8th, the Board of Managers of the Pennsylvania Society of Sons of the Revolution unanimously endorsed the action of the Pennsylvania Society of Colonial Dames. As a result of the resolution, Dr. Edward Brooks, then Superintendent of Public Schools of Philadelphia, directed that Flag Day exercises be held on June 14, 1893 in Independence Square. School children were assembled, each carrying a small Flag, and patriotic songs were sung and addresses delivered.

In 1894, the governor of New York directed that on June 14 the Flag be displayed on all public buildings. With BJ Cigrand and Leroy Van Horn as the moving spirits, the Illinois organization, known as the American Flag Day Association, was organized for the purpose of promoting the holding of Flag Day exercises. On June 14th, 1894, under the auspices of this association, the first general public school children's celebration of Flag Day in Chicago was held in Douglas, Garfield, Humboldt, Lincoln, and Washington Parks, with more than 300,000 children participating.

Adults, too, participated in patriotic programs. Franklin K. Lane, Secretary of the Interior, delivered a 1914 Flag Day address in which he repeated words he said the flag had spoken to him that morning: "I am what you make me; nothing more. I swing before your eyes as a bright gleam of color, a symbol of yourself."

Inspired by these three decades of state and local celebrations, Flag Day - the anniversary of the Flag Resolution of 1777 - was officially established by the Proclamation of President Woodrow Wilson on May 30th, 1916. While Flag Day was celebrated in various communities for years after Wilson's proclamation, it was not until August 3rd, 1949, that President Truman signed an Act of Congress designating June 14th of each year as National Flag Day.

[Cincinna]

LONG MAY SHE WAVE!

From out friends at GalliWatch:

The picture above, from All Posters, of a flag with the pledge of allegiance inscribed on it prompted me to research the words of the pledge that have undergone several changes since they were first written in 1892. A website called Home of Heroes gives a very readable history of the words we used to recite every day in school, standing very straight, hand on heart.

The last modification to the pledge was approved by President Eisenhower on June 14, 1954 when the words "under God" were added. An act that has never ceased to anger the secularists and atheists. Here are Eisenhower's own words:

"In this way we are reaffirming the transcendence of religious faith in America's heritage and future; in this way we shall constantly strengthen those spiritual weapons which forever will be our country's most powerful resource in peace and war."

Since then the flag has been reviled, burned, stamped upon, peed on, and the notion of transcendence has little meaning for generations of college kids who probably couldn't spell it, let alone define it. As for the pledge, many students refuse to recite it. In the school where I taught the pledge was eliminated, since the student body consisted of minorities with no inclination to pledge to the country that paid their way. Years later they resumed recitation of the pledge in the assemblies, but the students' lackluster, almost inaudible, manner of reciting it showed that sometimes it's better to omit a ritual no one believes in.

See US Flag for a history of Flag Day, and the White House for the text of a speech by President Bush in June 2001.

[Cindy]

stepping back in time...

http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a3b1c8ec119ce.htm

[Cindy]

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/06/20070606.html

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
June 6, 2007

Flag Day and National Flag Week, 2007

White House News

A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America

The American Flag represents freedom and has been an enduring symbol of our Nation’s ideals since the earliest days of our Nation. Wherever it flies, we are reminded of America’s unity and in the great cause of liberty and justice for all.

Two hundred and thirty years ago, the Second Continental Congress officially made the Stars and Stripes the symbol of America. The Founders declared that the 13 stars gracing the original flag represented “a new constellation,” just as America embodied new hope and new light for mankind. Today, our flag continues to convey the bold spirit of a proud and determined Nation.

Americans have long flown our flag as a sign of patriotism and gratitude for the blessings of liberty. We also pledge allegiance to the flag as an expression of loyalty to our country and to the belief in the American creed of freedom and justice. By displaying and showing respect for the flag, we honor the ideals upon which our democracy rests and show appreciation for the freedoms we enjoy today. Flying the flag can also be an expression of thanks for the men and women who have served and sacrificed in defense of our freedoms — from the early patriots of the Continental Army to the courageous Americans in uniform who are defending those freedoms around the world today.

During Flag Day and National Flag Week, we honor Old Glory and reflect on the foundations of our freedom. As citizens of this great Nation, we are proud of our heritage, grateful for our liberty, and confident in our future.

To commemorate the adoption of our flag, the Congress, by joint resolution approved August 3, 1949, as amended (63 Stat. 492), designated June 14 of each year as “Flag Day” and requested that the President issue an annual proclamation calling for its observance and for the display of the flag of the United States on all Federal Government buildings. The Congress also requested, by joint resolution approved June 9, 1966, as amended (80 Stat. 194), that the President issue annually a proclamation designating the week in which June 14 occurs as “National Flag Week” and calling upon all citizens of the United States to display the flag during that week.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim June 14, 2007, as Flag Day and the week beginning June 10, 2007, as National Flag Week. I direct the appropriate officials to display the flag on all Federal Government buildings during that week, and I urge all Americans to observe Flag Day and National Flag Week by flying the Stars and Stripes from their homes and other suitable places. I also call upon the people of the United States to observe with pride and all due ceremony those days from Flag Day through Independence Day, also set aside by the Congress (89 Stat. 211), as a time to honor America, to celebrate our heritage in public gatherings and activities, and to publicly recite the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fifth day of June, in the year of our Lord two thousand seven, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-first.

GEORGE W. BUSH

# # #

[Cincinna]

Thanks for the reminder.

[Cindy]

You’re very welcome, Cincinna.

[easonc52]

Yes, thank you very much for the reminder!!!

The flag is flying out front, and the magnetic is on the car as always!

[Cindy]

God bless you, Easonc52 and thank you for posting this photo, too.

[easonc52]

You're very welcome! I was a bit surprised there weren't more reminders here...

[cyclotic]

At my house, every day is flag day. 365/24/7. Lighted

OK Freepers, give me your opinion.

My son and his fellow Boy Scouts made a patrol flag the other day. To make it stronger, I cut the thick fabric and the grommets from a retired US flag and had my wife sew it onto the patrol flag.

My younger son asked if that was OK to cut the flag. I answered that we were going to have a flag burning ceremony soon to retire the flag and that we were honoring it by making some of it part of our patrol flag.

Comments?

[Young Werther]

This is what we veterans fought and died for!

Hand salute!

[Young Werther]

I've read the Flag Rules and the only mention of the grommets and thick material is that this is the area where signatures can be affixed. Since you are using this area for strengtening you Scout flag and since you intend a proper disposal ceremony per the Flag Protocols I believe that you are acting in accord with Flag Protocols.

Flag rules

She's a Grand Old Flag and having attended some Eagle Scout Ceremonies, I'm sure your troop will do it Justice when you're marching "over hill, over dale!"

[Dandydoodley]

Dogpile honors flag day (ô¿ô)
Google honors nothing (ò¿ó)

God Bless Our Troops and God Bless America

[GreenLanternCorps]

Some interesting flag facts:

1. The 50-Star US Flag will pass the 48-Star Flag (47 years) as the longest serving US Flag on July 4th, 2007.

2. When ever a new state is admitted to the Union, a new star is officially added to the flag on the Independence Day following that state's admission.

3. The shortest flags used were the 20, 21, 25, 27, 28, 29, 32, 43, and 49 Star flags which were all used for only one year.

4. The US Army Institute of Heraldry has flag patterns of up to 56 Stars in reserve. These are for use if any more states are admitted to the Union.

5. Next year is the 100th Anniversary of the 46 Star flag that was used after Okalahoma became a state.

[Altura Ct.]

You’re a grand old flag,
You’re a high flying flag
And forever in peace may you wave.
You’re the emblem of
The land I love.
The home of the free and the brave.
Ev’ry heart beats true
‘neath the Red, White and Blue,
Where there’s never a boast or brag.
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
Keep your eye on the grand old flag.

You’re a grand old flag,
You’re a high flying flag
And forever in peace may you wave.
You’re the emblem of
The land I love.
The home of the free and the brave.
Ev’ry heart beats true
‘neath the Red, White and Blue,
Where there’s never a boast or brag.
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
Keep your eye on the grand old flag.

George M Cohan

“Ladies and gentlemen, my mother thanks you, my father thanks you, my sister thanks you, and I thank you!”

[Daffynition]

Thank you for posting this thread.

Click on the flag to hear the classic Red Skelton recitation.

As a schoolboy in Vincennes, Indiana, one of Red Skelton's teachers explained the words and meaning of the Pledge of Allegiance to his class. Skelton later wrote down, and eventually recorded, his recollection of this lecture. It is followed by an observation of his own.

I

Me; an individual; a committee of one.

Pledge

Dedicate all of my worldly goods to give without self-pity.

Allegiance

My love and my devotion.

To the Flag

Our standard; Old Glory ; a symbol of courage; and wherever she waves there is respect, because your loyalty has given her a dignity that shouts, "Freedom is everybody's job."

United

That means that we have all come together.

States

Individual communities that have united into forty-eight great states. Forty-eight individual communities with pride and dignity and purpose. All divided by imaginary boundaries, yet united to a common cause, and that is love of country... of America.

And to the Republic

Republic--a sovereign state in which power is invested in representatives chosen by the people to govern. And government is the people; and it's from the people to the leaders, not from the leaders to the people.

For which it stands

One Nation

meaning, so blessed by God.

Indivisible

Incapable of being divided.

With Liberty

Which is Freedom; the right of power for one to live his own life, without fears, threats, or any sort of retaliation.

And Justice

The principle, and qualities, of dealing fairly with others.

For All

For All--that means, boys and girls, it's as much your country as it is mine.

And now, boys and girls, let me hear you recite the Pledge of Allegiance:

I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic, for which it stands; one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

 

Since I was a small boy, two states have been added to our country, and two words have been added to the Pledge of Allegiance: Under God. Wouldn't it be a pity if someone said that is a prayer, and that would be eliminated from schools, too?

-- Red Skelton

 

[Cincinna]

Thanks for posting this great contribution by Red Skelton.

When I was a kid, we listened to this every Flag Day.

When did Flag Day start offending the PC Police?

What a shame!

[Daffynition]

I do not know the answer to your question ...but sadly Americans have fallen asleep at the wheel. I cannot imagine any performer today who would even dare to do what Mr. Skelton did on a stage today....I would be glad to be informed otherwise.

[LantzALot]

Wouldn't it be a pity if someone said that is a prayer, and that would be eliminated from schools, too?

-- Red Skelton

Oh, they've tried.

[Daffynition]

Are you trying to get my blood boiling? Even when I think about it ...GRRRRRR!