Flag Day is celebrated on June 14th every year. The day commemorates the adoption of the American flag by the Continental Congress on June 14, 1777. The flag, often referred to as the “Stars and Stripes,” represents the unity, history, and ideals of the United States.
On Flag Day, Americans show their patriotism by displaying the flag at homes, schools, government buildings, and other public spaces. Many communities hold parades, ceremonies, and other events to honor the flag and reflect on its significance. It is also common for people to wear clothing or accessories featuring the flag’s design as a symbol of national pride.
Flag day is not a federal holiday in the United States, meaning that businesses and schools remain open. However, it is recognized as an important observance, and many schools teach students about the history and symbolism of the American flag during this time.
It is worth noting that Flag Day in the United States is distinct from Independence Day, which is celebrated on July 4th and commemorates the nation’s declaration of independence from Great Britain in 1775.
The current national flag is the twenty-seventh version of the national flag. When the Thirteen Colonies were seceding from the British, there became a necessity for a flag to symbolize the patriot cause and rally individuals for the Revolution.
On June 14, 1777, the Second Continental Congress passed the first Flag Resolution. This resolution officially adopted the “Stars and Stripes” as the national flag and states:
Resolved That the Flag of the United States be thirteen stripes alternate red and white, that the Union be thirteen stars in a blue field representing a new constellation.
June 14th is celebrated as Flag Day because of this resolution. On 1782 Charles Thompson, Secretary of the Continental Congress, consolidated the designs and work from the three committees tasked with creating a National Seal. No original design from Thompson exists depicting this consolidated seal, but he wrote a detailed summary including the meaning behind the colors of the United States. He stated:
The colors of the pales (the vertical stripes) are those used in the flag of the United States of America; White signifies purity and innocence, Red, hardiness and Valour, and Blue, the color of the Chief (the broad band above the stripes) signifies vigilance, perseverance, and Justice.
In 1794, a second Flag Act was signed. In this resolution, two new stars and two more stripes were added to the design, which symbolized the addition of Vermont and Kentucky into the Union. When the third version of the Flag Act was adopted in 1818 when five more states were added to the Union. In addition, this act reduced the number of stripes from fifteen to thirteen. It also designated that for every new state added to the Union, one more star will be added to the flag.
Today the flag consists of fifty stars, thirteen red and white stripes.
