Flag Day -- special time to honor 'Old Glory'

Published June 13, 2007
By Susan Griggs
81st Training Wing Public Affairs

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- June 14 is Flag Day, a national celebration of the history of the American flag and a time to remember proper etiquette for its display.

Flag Day recognizes the adoption of the Stars and Stripes as the official flag of the United States 230 years ago on June 14, 1777, by the Continental Congress meeting in Philadelphia.

A resolution was passed specifying that the flag have 13 alternating red and white stripes, and the union have 13 white stars on a blue field. The resolution didn't specify the arrangement of the stars, but a full circle was adopted later.

On May 1, 1795, the flag was changed to 15 stars and 15 stripes. This flag stood over Fort McHenry as the British attacked during the War of 1812, Sept. 13-14, 1814. This flag, found still standing after the attack ended, inspired Francis Scott Key to compose The Star-Spangled Banner.

On April 4, 1818, Congress passed a law limiting the flag's stripes to 13 and providing for a star to be added to the blue field for each new state. This flag evolved into the flag flown over the United States today, with its last star added for the state of Hawaii in 1960.
Flag Day was first observed in 1877, the 100th anniversary of the adoption of America's red, white and blue banner.

In 1916, President Wood-row Wilson established Flag Day as an annual national celebration. It didn't become a national holiday until Aug. 3, 1949, when President Harry Truman signed a resolution denoting June 14 as the official birthday of the Stars and Stripes.

As America's flag developed throughout history, so too did traditions and proper etiquette guiding the proper use and display of "Old Glory." The United States Flag Code adopted by Congress states, "The flag represents a living country and itself is considered a living thing."

Flag Day--special time to honor 'Old Glory'