Like many people, I honestly thought Flag Day was a celebration honoring all the flags around the world. Leave it to me to discover — after several decades — that it specifically celebrates the American flag. Am I a little embarrassed admitting this publicly? Absolutely. But in my defense, this question never came up during an episode of “Jeopardy” and apparently my public-school career failed to prepare me for this shocking revelation. Honestly, I assumed every country got a participation trophy that day.
Did you know the American flag has had 27 different versions since 1777, which means our nation has technically gone through more wardrobe changes than a Pittsburgh weather forecast in April?
According to the National Flag Foundation and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Flag Day is celebrated every year on June 14 because that is the day the Continental Congress officially adopted the Stars and Stripes in 1777. Back then, Betsy Ross probably had no idea her sewing project would one day appear on everything from Olympic uniforms to pickup truck bumper stickers. Americans celebrate Flag Day with parades, ceremonies and backyard cookouts where at least one uncle insists he knows the “proper” way to fold a flag but somehow still can’t fold a fitted sheet.
Did you know the American flag has earned a surprising number of nicknames over the years? “Old Glory” remains the most famous, thanks to sea captain William Driver, who proudly named his flag in the 1800s. According to the Smithsonian Institution, the flag has become one of the most recognized symbols in the world. It has traveled to the moon, survived battlefields and somehow still manages to flap dramatically during every football game at exactly the right moment. Even more impressive, Americans can spot a backward flag from three parking lots away with the accuracy of a hawk searching for Potato Patch at Kennywood.
Did you know Flag Day is not actually a federal holiday, even though it feels important enough to deserve one? President Woodrow Wilson officially proclaimed June 14 as Flag Day in 1916, while Congress later made it nationally recognized in 1949. According to the Library of Congress, the day serves as a reminder of unity, history and the many generations who helped shape America. Whether the flag is hanging proudly on a porch, waving during a parade or banging on a metal pole during a windy picnic disaster, it remains a symbol that connects people across generations.
Be First to Comment