Flag Day

(Originally Published Saturday, June 12, 2010 – Blogger: One Daughter’s Point of View)

As the incoming regent for my DAR chapter, I met with the out-going regent to collect the various boxes of files and supplies that are passed from regent to regent. Virtually every box had a reference to the U.S. Flag in some form or fashion. And then there were the various flags themselves – of all sizes.

Naturally, I began to ponder Old Glory a little more as I drove her around the county for a day or two before unpacking my car. I also noticed the various displays of the flag in yards, parks, and businesses. Finally, I realized that my local town had posted flags along the downtown streets and realized then that it must be due to the upcoming celebration of Flag Day.

Flag Day marks the anniversary of the adoption of an official U.S. flag on June 14, 1777 which passed by resolution of the Second Continental Congress. In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson declared June 14th Flag Day by proclamation. But it wasn’t until 1949 that Congress finally passed an Act to establish National Flag Day on June 14th; it is still not a National Holiday.

It seems to me that more people wave the flag today than I recall during my youth. I imagine that has something to do with the events of 9/11 and the pride Americans have in their military – regardless of the position they have on the wars fought in Iraq and Afghanistan. I vividly remember the flags flown from houses, cars, bridges and along roadsides when I had to work that weekend. While traveling to a small South Carolina town, I was amazed at the patriotism expressed with the waving of the flag and both moved and proud of my fellow citizens and many, many strangers to whom I suddenly felt close.

I think these spontaneous flag-waving incidents have continued unabated ever since. Just the other day, I was behind a fire truck sporting the flag which was secured on the back of the truck. The day before, I stopped at a traffic light beside a motorcyclist who had a large flag waving in the wind on his bike.

During the Second Continental Congress, the design of the flag was designated. The resolution passed stated that there would be thirteen stripes, alternating red and white; there would also be a blue field with thirteen stars “…representing a new Constellation.” The original resolution didn’t specify the arrangement of the stars, thus the wide variation in the flags designed and flown with various “Constellations” depicted.

After various designs and even variations in the number of stripes (at one time, there were fifteen stars and fifteen stripes – the flag that inspired Francis Scott Key to write the Star Spangled Banner), Congress passed an Act formally designating the number of stars and their arrangement. One star would be added to the flag to represent each state. At the time of the passage of this act in 1818, there were 20 states. As new states were added, the flag would be altered to add an additional star or stars, with that modified flag becoming the standard as of July 4th of each year after that state was added to the union. The number of stripes was once again designated as thirteen to honor the original thirteen colonies.

The current flag of fifty stars for each of the fifty states became official on July 4, 1960 and remains the longest retention of the U.S. Flag in use during our short American history.

The week of June 14th has become known as “National Flag Week.” During the week, the President will most likely issue a proclamation urging all U.S. citizens to fly the U.S. flag during the week and direct that the flag be flown at all government buildings. Many organizations will celebrate National Flag Day on the second Sunday in June – June 13, 2010.

I hope you will celebrate Flag Day at some point this week, reflecting on the symbolism of the flag “…and the republic for which it stands.”