The national flag of America, with its stars and the stripes, is perhaps the most recognizable flag in the world. It is the third oldest of the National Standards. As such, it is perhaps fitting that a National Flag Day is held every June 14th to observe it.
Congress first authorized the American flag on June 14th 1777. It is for this reason that June 14th is the day Americans choose to celebrate it. However, the actual National Flag Day itself took a good deal longer to become an official national celebration.
In 1861 George Morris of Hartford is credited with first coining the phrase 'Flag Day,' as an occasion to honor the 1777 flag birth date. Hartford city first celebrated it in 1861 as a patriotic celebration, although this was not enough to establish it as tradition.
It was not until 1877, on the 100 anniversary of the continental congress adoption of the flag, that congress asked that public buildings fly the flag on June 14. This popularized the flying of the flag, and more people wanted to participate.
Not least, this inspired schoolteacher Bernard J Cigrand. Cigrand wanted to do more to promote American patriotism and their flag. With this in mind, in 1885 he held a formal observance of National Flag Day at Stony Hill School. In addition, he held speeches to advocate the suggestion for a formal Flag Day on June 14th. Later he became editor of the magazine American Standard, which promoted the holiday.
With Cigrand actively promoting Flag Day, political figures began to take notice. In 1894, the governor of New York directed that on June 14 the flag should be displayed on all public buildings. The American Flag Day Association, of which Cigrand was apart of, was organized to promote public Flag Day exercises. Under this organization the first public school celebration was held in Chicago on June 14 1894, with approximately 300,000 school children taking part.
With Flag Day now being celebrated through local and state celebrations, popular pressure began to pick up for some national recognition. And so it was that on 30th May 1916, President Woodrow Wilson gave an official proclamation establishing the anniversary of the flag resolution in 1777, as Flag Day on June 14th.
While this gave Flag Day some official recognition, it would not be until 1949 that legislative ratification would be given. This was done on August 3rd 1949, when President Truman signed an Act of Congress, which designated June 14th of each year as National Flag Day.
National Flag Day has been celebrated ever since, as part of National Flag week from 14th June. Celebrations, which are led by the National Flag Day Foundation, include the raising of the flag, singing of the national anthem and parades. In many respects, this celebration has much to owe not only America's forefathers, but also to BJ Cigrand for his active promotion of Flag Day, in addition to subsequent Presidents Wilson and Truman for their ratification of National Flag Day.
