Interesting Facts about Flag Day

On 14th June, 1777, the Second Continental Congress passed a resolution adopting the flag of the United States. In 1916, the day was officially declared the 'Flag Day' following a proclamation issued by the then President Woodrow Wilson. The history of the Flag Day is undoubtedly one of the most interesting chapters in the history of America. Sadly though, the day seems to have been long forgotten, and the fact that nowadays you hardly get to see hundreds of flags flying in every street of the United States like before, hints at this very fact.

Flag Day Facts

The Flag Day is celebrated to commemorate the adoption of national flag of the United States of America. 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 it today. The fiftieth star was added to the national flag with the inclusion of the state of Hawaii to the Union.

The Concept of Flag Day
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 this day. 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. 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.

National Flag Day
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, including the governor of New York coming up with an official order that the American flag should be displayed on all public buildings in the city. Finally President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation establishing 14th June as the Flag Day on 30th May, 1916. Eventually, the National Flag Day was established by a Congressional legislation during the presidential term of Harry Truman in August 1949.

Celebrations
Even though 14th June has never been a Federal holiday, there exist numerous accounts which speak about this day being celebrated in great pomp and gaiety in the past. Other than displaying the U.S. flag, nicknamed Old Glory, on the roof of the house, the day is also celebrated by organizing parades. In fact the annual Flag Day parade held at Quincy, Massachusetts, was first celebrated in 1952, and is considered to be one of the longest running parades of the American history. On the other hand, the city of Troy in New York boasts of hosting the largest parade in the country with several thousand individuals participating in the same. Other than these large-scale celebrations, this day is also celebrated by several neighborhoods by organizing small gatherings.

Interestingly, 14th June also marks the birth of the American Continental Army (adopted on 14th June, 1775) which is considered the parent body of the modern U.S. Army. This invariably means we have two good reasons to celebrate the day. Do we still need 14th June to be a Federal holiday to celebrate it? Not if we understand what national pride is all about.