Congress adopted Flag Day, which is celebrated on June 14th, in 1777. The Stars and Stripes represent the emblem of our nation. However, it was not until August 3, 1949 that the National Flag Day Bill, signed by President Harry Truman, became law, giving official recognition to June 14th as the date to celebrate the flag.

According to legend, in 1776, George Washington commissioned Philadelphia seamstress Betsy Ross to create a flag for the new nation. There have been twenty-seven versions of the flag over the years. The current version dates to July 4, 1960, when Hawaii became the 50th state.

Here's a quick course in American Flag 101 – The flag of the United States of America has 13 stripes – 7 red and 6 white – and 50 white stars on a blue field – five rows of 6 and four rows of 5. The stripes remind us of the 13
original colonies that gained us our liberty. The stars represent the states that are bound together into one country.

The flag of the United States should be flown every day when weather permits. If made of weather resistant material, as most of them are nowadays, it can be flown around the clock in any weather if properly illuminated.

Any rule or custom pertaining to the display of the flag of the United States of America may be altered, modified, or repealed, or additional rules may be prescribed, by the President of the United States, whenever he or she feels it to be appropriate or desirable. Any such alteration or additional rule must be stated in a proclamation.

When I was a little girl I can remember my father teaching my brother, and me how to display and respect our American flag, which always flew in our Middle Village yard. It was a lesson in patriotism that my Dad took very seriously, and every day I can recall the ceremony of raising our flag and then removing it at night. My father also made it a point to teach us how to fold the American flag appropriately. I can recall vividly by father's speeches about how the flag should always be respected. These childhood lessons have a way of staying with you for life and if my Dad is reading this now, he would be pleased to see that I remember and still follow the American flag etiquette taught by him! Also no Flag Day can be celebrated without taking the opportunity to thank our American service men and women who are serving our great country currently and those who have served and paid the ultimate price in past. You make us proud to fly our beautiful American flag.

In recognition of Flag Day I¹ll end this little tribute with the Pledge of Allegiance and an explanation of its meaning.

“I pledge allegiance”
(I promise to be true)
“to the flag”
(to the symbol of our country)
“of the United States of America”
(each state that has joined to make our country)
“and to the Republic”
(a republic is a country where the people choose others to make laws for them — the government is for the people)
“for which it stands,”
(the flag means the country)
“one Nation”
(a single country)
“under God,”
(the people believe in a supreme being)
“indivisible,”
(the country cannot be split into parts)
“with liberty and justice”
(with freedom and fairness)
“for all.”
(for each person in the country…you and me!)

The pledge says you are promising to be true to the United States of America!