Flag Day? From trivia to Florida events, here are 10 things to know
Flag Day is a holiday that celebrates the adoption of the U.S. flag on June 14, 1777. Flag Day, a holiday in the United States, is celebrated as part of National Flag Week, marking the adoption of the country's national flag and honoring principles of freedom, unity, and patriotism. Flag Day is one of Florida's 21 legal holidays when state offices may be closed. The first national observance of Flag Day was held in 1877, 100 years after the flag resolution was adopted by the Continental Congress. In the late 1800s, U.S. schools held Flag Day programs to aid in the Americanization of immigrant children. The day commemorates June 14, 1777, when the American flag was designed for a flag of 13 red and white stripes with 13 stars in a field of blue. President Harry Truman signed into law in 1949, declaring Flag Day as Flag Day and directing that the flag of the US should be displayed on all government buildings on that day.
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Flag Day will be here Friday, but what exactly is Flag Day and how are you supposed to celebrate or recognize it?
And did you know Flag Day is part of National Flag Week?
Flag Day is a holiday in the United States that celebrates the adoption of the country's national flag. The day also honors the principles of freedom, unity, and patriotism, said military support site Carry The Load.
"It serves as an occasion to honor the history, significance, and symbolism of the American flag as a symbol of freedom, unity, and national pride."
When is Flag Day 2024 and National Flag Week?
National Flag Week begins on June 9 every year, according to National Today.
Yes, Flag Day is one of Florida's 21 legal holidays when state offices may be closed.
"Flag Day commemorates June 14, 1777, when the Continental Congress determined the composition of the nation’s banner," calling for a flag of 13 red and white stripes with 13 stars in a field of blue, according to PBS.
In the late 1800s, U.S. schools held Flag Day programs to "contribute to the Americanization of immigrant children." The observance caught on with individual communities, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
One teacher, Bernard J. Cigrand, referred to by some as the “Father of Flag Day,” lobbied Congress for many years for Flag Day to be officially observed, according to the Constitution Center.
The first national observance of Flag Day was on June 14, 1877, 100 years after the flag resolution was adopted by the Continental Congress.
Both President Wilson, in 1916, and President Coolidge, in 1927, issued proclamations asking for June 14 to be observed as the National Flag Day.
But it wasn’t until Aug. 3, 1949, that Congress approved the national observance, which President Harry Truman signed into law.
Truman's announcement of Flag Day and his suggestions on how to celebrate
"WHEREAS on June 14, 1777, the Continental Congress adopted the flag which we cherish as the flag of the United States of America; and
"WHEREAS under this flag generations of Americans have lived and worked to establish the foundations of our country's greatness; and
"WHEREAS this flag has become the beloved symbol of our way of life, our achievements as a people, and the many blessings which Providence has heaped upon us; and
"WHEREAS for many years it has been customary to observe the anniversary of the day of the adoption of the flag as Flag Day; and
"WHEREAS in this year following our great victories on the field of battle it is especially appropriate that we continue the customary observance of this day, and dedicate ourselves with renewed devotion to the responsibilities and obligations of citizenship under this flag:
"NOW, THEREFORE, I, HARRY S. TRUMAN, President of the United States of America, do hereby designate June 14, 1946, as Flag Day, and direct that the flag of the United States be displayed on all Government buildings on that day.
"And I urge that the people of the United States observe that day by suitable public ceremonies and by the display of the flag at their homes and other appropriate places; and I suggest that, in recognition of the joint victories achieved by the United States and her allies, the flags of the United Nations be shown, wherever possible, in the company of the flag of the United States."
"For people across America, our flag is a reminder of our Nation’s founding principle," President Biden said in a proclamation released Tuesday, June 11.
"It stands for the sacred idea that we are all created equal and deserve to be treated equally throughout our lives. Our flag is also a reminder of our shared calling: to stand for the ideals our country was founded on — democracy, freedom, and justice for all. On Flag Day and during National Flag Week, we take pride in the promise and purpose represented by our Nation’s flag."
"Our flag has served as a source of pride and inspiration. It has flown high on many battlefields, acting as a beacon of light and purpose at home and around the globe. It flies over military cemeteries where our country’s service members have been laid to rest, reminding us of the unmoving faith they had in our Nation and the ultimate sacrifice they made. It is ... a constant reminder that democracy begins and will be preserved in the habits and the hearts of ordinary people and that we all share a responsibility to stand up for it each and every day.
"On Flag Day and during National Flag Week, we honor all that the flag means to the American people and continue working to ensure that America is a land of possibilities for all. No matter how dark the night, Americans will always pursue our Nation’s North Star — our flag will always be there.
"I encourage the people of the United States to observe with pride and all due ceremony those days from Flag Day through Independence Day, set aside by the Congress, as a time to honor the American spirit, to celebrate our history and the foundational values we strive to uphold, and to publicly recite the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America," Biden said.
What do the colors, stars and stripes on the American flag stand for?
The colors red, white and blue did not have meanings for the Stars and Stripes when it was adopted in 1777.
However, when the Congress of the Confederation chose red, white and blue for the Great Seal of the United States in 1782, the meanings were listed as: white for purity and innocence, red for valor and hardiness, and blue for vigilance, perseverance, and justice, according to the National Flag Foundation.
American flag has changed over the years
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Is there anything to do in Florida on Flag Day?
Here are some events we found taking place in Florida:
How do you fly the American flag correctly?
Congress created the U.S. Flag Code in 1942 to provide guidelines for the proper display and care of the flag. The Veterans of Foreign Wars outlined how to display the flag.
• A flag should always hang freely. Do not fasten it or tie it back.
• Do not fly the flag upside down unless there is an emergency.
• No other flag may be flown above or to the right of the U.S. flag, except at the United Nations headquarters.
• If on the same staff, the U.S. flag is above any other flag.
• Citizens may fly the flag at any time but preferably from sunrise to sunset — except for special occasions or when well-lighted.
• When a flag becomes unfit to fly, it should be destroyed with dignity.
• A flag should never touch the ground.
• Do not draw on, or otherwise mark the flag.
Flag trivia. Test your knowledge, then amaze your friends
• How many American flags are on the moon?
• What is the largest American flag and where has it flown?
• The largest U.S. flag is known as the Superflag. It measures 255x505 feet — which can cover a football field 1.5 times — and weighs more than 3,000 pounds. It takes more than 600 people to unfurl it. Each star is 17 feet high and the stripes are 20 feet wide. In 1996, it was displayed over the Hoover Dam to celebrate the Olympics. It also has been at such iconic events as the Superbowl and the World Series, according to AmericanFlags.
• How many versions of the American flag have there been?
• When was the star representing Florida added to the flag?