Celebrating America’s Flag

The idea of an annual day specifically celebrating the flag is believed to have first originated in 1885 when a schoolteacher in Wisconsin named B.J. Cigrand arranged for the pupils 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, 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.
In 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.
In 1894, the governor of New York directed that on June 14 the Flag be displayed on all public buildings.
Inspired by 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.

For more information about flag day visit www.USFlag.org and www.holiday insites.com.

Related posts:

1. Properly Display Our Flag
2. One Man’s Kindness
3. The Front Flap – September 2009
4. June 1950