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.
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