June 14: Flag day

Two hundred thirty-six years ago today, the Continental Congress adopted a flag bearing 13 stars and 13 stripes. The stars now number 50, but the red, white and blue design remains a symbol of freedom and democracy.
Flag Day was first observed on June 14, 1916, under a proclamation from President Woodrow Wilson. The annual celebration was written into law in August 1949 when President Harry Truman signed legislation that designated June 14 as Flag Day. In June 1966, Congress passed a joint resolution requesting that the president issue annually a proclamation designating the week in which June 14 occurs as National Flag Week.
So President Barack Obama has proclaimed this week as National Flag Week, saying:
“I direct the appropriate officials to display the flag on all Federal Government buildings during that week, and I urge all Americans to observe Flag Day and National Flag Week by displaying the flag. I also call upon the people of the United States to observe with pride and all due ceremony those days from Flag Day through Independence Day, also set aside by the Congress (89 Stat. 211), as a time to honor America, to celebrate our heritage in public gatherings and activities, and to publicly recite the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America.”
Despite our differences and conflicts, Americans join together to salute the flag. Let us celebrate our common bonds as free and responsible citizens of this great nation as we fly the stars and stripes through July 4.

http://billingsgazette.com/news/opinion/editorial/gazette-opinion/gazette-opinion-fly-old-glory-on-flag-day/article_a8b19e91-d4ba-5964-bfc0-4303ff70205f.html

June 14th: The Birthday of the U.S. Army

The Army’s Birthday: 14 June 1775

When the American Revolution broke out, the rebellious colonies did not possess an army in the modern sense. Rather, the revolutionaries fielded an amateur force of colonial troops, cobbled together from various New England militia companies.  They had no unified chain of command, and although Artemas Ward of Massachusetts exercised authority by informal agreement, officers from other colonies were not obligated to obey his orders.  The American volunteers were led, equipped, armed, paid for, and supported by the colonies from which they were raised.

In the spring of 1775, this “army” was about to confront British troops near Boston, Massachusetts. The revolutionaries had to re-organize their forces quickly if they were to stand a chance against Britain’s seasoned professionals. Recognizing the need to enlist the support of all of the American seaboard colonies, the Massachusetts Provincial Congress appealed to the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia to assume authority for the New England army.  Reportedly, at John Adams’ request, Congress voted to “adopt” the Boston troops on June 14, although there is no written record of this decision.  Also on this day, Congress resolved to form a committee “to bring in a draft of rules and regulations for the government of the Army,” and voted $2,000,000 to support the forces around Boston, and those at New York City.  Moreover, Congress authorized the formation of ten companies of expert riflemen from Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia, which were directed to march to Boston to support the New England militia.

George Washington received his appointment as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army the next day, and formally took command at Boston on July 3, 1775. 


John R. Maass
Historian
US Army Center of Military History

http://www.history.army.mil/html/faq/birth.html