Posted by PAW on 6/14/07 1:01pm
Msg #195111

OT: Today is Flag Day

Did you know today is the 230th anniversary of the American flag? Happy Flag Day!

Each year on June 14, we celebrate the birthday of the Stars and Stripes, which came into being on June 14, 1777. At that time, the Second Continental Congress authorized a new flag to symbolize the new Nation, the United States of America.

The Stars and Stripes first flew in a Flag Day celebration in Hartford, Connecticut in 1861, during the first summer of the Civil War. The first national observance of Flag Day occurred June 14, 1877, the centennial of the original flag resolution. By the mid 1890's the observance of Flag Day on June 14 was a popular event. Mayors and governors began to issue proclamations in their jurisdictions to celebrate this event. In the years to follow, public sentiment for a national Flag Day observance greatly intensified. Numerous patriotic societies and veterans groups became identified with the Flag Day movement. Since their main objective was to stimulate patriotism among the young, schools were the first to become involved in flag activities. In 1916 President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation calling for a nationwide observance of Flag Day on June 14. It was not until 1949 that Congress made this day a permanent observance by resolving "That the 14th day of June of each year is hereby designated as Flag Day . The measure was signed into law by President Harry Truman.

Although Flag Day is not celebrated as a Federal holiday, Americans everywhere continue to honor the history and heritage it represents.

(USA GOV)

Reply by ZeeCA on 6/14/07 1:14pm
Msg #195116

My little town will line all the main streets with flags ev

ery 6 feet... it is really nice to see

Reply by PL on 6/14/07 1:38pm
Msg #195121

As an aside

It is also the birthday of America's oldest armed service, the US Army. Today is the 232nd birth of its founding.

Reply by PL on 6/14/07 1:39pm
Msg #195122

Re: As an aside

That should be anniversary not birth. Fat fingers

Reply by Sylvia_FL on 6/14/07 5:33pm
Msg #195203

Re: As an aside

And 2 years later the Stars and Stripes became the national U.S. flag

Reply by dickb/wi on 6/14/07 7:09pm
Msg #195218

and that same year the USMC was born....Semper FI....... n/m

Reply by LisaWI on 6/14/07 9:15pm
Msg #195253

I had the honor

to celebrate today with my daughter and my mom at a wonderful Flag Retirement ceremony given by the Daughters of the American Revolution. We met at the Korean Memorial in our town. There was a Flag Burning and over 100 Flags were laid to rest. It even made the evening news. My mom did a tribute to the POW's and it was quite moving. My daughters Brownie Troop was invited to attend by the DAR's and they helped carry flags to the burning barrell. They gave a nice lunch afterwords. The girls earned their Model Citizen Badge by being a part of this today and it was nice to see the girls working with the elders in honoring our flag.