Flag Day, June 14th – Do You Know Your Flag Facts?
Today is Flag Day, before I left for work this morning - I put Old Glory out in front of my house. I thought I would share a few facts about our flag with you today:
Timeline of Flag Day
June 14, 1777 – Congress adopts the Stars and Stripes as the flag of the U.S.
June 14, 1885 – Bernard J. Cigrand, a Wisconsin teacher, placed a 10-inch, 38-star flag in a bottle on his desk and assigned essays on the flag and its significance.
June 14, 1891 – The Betsy Ross House in Philadelphia hosts a Flag Day celebration.
May 30, 1916 – President Woodrow Wilson issues a proclamation calling for a nationwide observance of Flag Day.
Aug. 3, 1949 – President Harry Truman signs an Act Of Congress designating the 14th day of June every year as National Flag Day.
June 14, 2004 – The 108th U.S. Congress votes unanimously on H.R. 662 that Flag Day originated in Ozaukee County, WI.
Timeline facts courtesy of NationalFlagDay.com and USFlag.org.
How to Fold the Flag
Step 1: Facing each other, two people should hold the flag horizontally at both ends.
Step 2: Make your first fold lengthwise, bringing the stripes over the union area (stars) of the flag.
Step 3: Match up the corners, keeping the flag taut.
Step 4: Make another lengthwise fold, match up the corners and keep the flag taut.
Step 5: Keeping the flag taut at both ends, fold a triangle from fold to edge (start at the end with stripes). Keep folding triangles, making sure you keep a 90-degree angle and your folds are smooth. Continue folding triangles in the same manner.
Step 6: Continue folding triangles onto the union (stars) of the flag.
Step 7: Fold the last triangle and tuck the ends in.
Red, White and Blue Meaning
- The stripes represent the 13 original colonies.
- The 50 stars represent the number of states.
- The colors of the flag have meaning as well: Red symbolizes Hardiness and Valor; White symbolizes Purity and Innocence; Blue represents Vigilance, Perseverance and Justice.
Meaning courtesy of PBS America Responds.
Proper Display
- The flag should be displayed from sunrise to sunset. If the flag is displayed at night it should be illuminated.
- Never allow the flag to touch the ground or the floor.
- When displayed on a wall or window the union (stars) should be in the upper left corner.
- The flag should be raised quickly and lowered ceremoniously.
- The flag is often flown at half-staff to show respect for someone who has died. When flown at half-staff, the flag should be raised to the top for an instant and then lowered to the half-staff position. The flag should also be raised to the top before it is lowered at the end of the day.
Proper Display courtesy of PBS America Responds.