Happy Birthday to OUR Flag

Happy Birthday to the US flag!

July 4th is celebrated as America’s birthday, but the flag has its own birthday and its always been TODAY – June 14.

Flag Day commemorates the adoption of the US flag by resolution of the 2nd Continental Congress on June 14, 1777 when it adopted Betsy Ross’ design for a national flag.

“Resolved: that the flag of the United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation.”

Flag Day began on June 14, 1877, when the flag was flown from every government building in honor of the Stars and Stripes’ centennial. In 1885, Wisconsin schoolteacher Bernard J. Cigrand began an annual June 14th Flag Birthday celebration, a practice that spread rapidly among schools. Flag Day was established by proclamation by President Woodrow Wilson in 1916.In 1949, it became law established by an act of Congress and signed by President Harry Truman. However, it’s not an official federal holiday and no schools or offices will be closed.

Some guidelines for displaying  the American flag:

• The flag is normally flown from sunrise to sunset.
• In the morning, raise the flag. At sunset, lower it slowly. The flag should not be flown at night without a light on it.It should  not be flown in rain or inclement weather.
• After a tragedy or death, the flag is flown at half staff for 30 days. It's  called "half staff" on land, and "half mast" on a ship.
• When flown vertically on a pole, the stars and blue field , or "union" is at the top and at the end of the pole.
• The union is always on top. When displayed in print, the stars and blue field are always on the left.
• The US flag is always flown at the top of the pole; state flag and other flags fly below.
• Never let the flag touch the ground. Fold the flag when storing. When its old and weather-worn, retire it by burning or burying it; never throw it in the trash.

The flag has had the power to inspire:

Francis Scott Key, who in the early hours of Sept. 13, 1814, was so inspired to see the US flag still flying over Fort McHenry in Baltimore harbor after an overnight attack by the British fleet that he wrote “The Star Spangled Banner,” our national anthem.

NYC firefighters working at Ground Zero who raised the US flag at the World Trade Center site following the terrorist attack on Sept. 11, 2000.

The flag is our symbol of our freedoms as US citizens, so today take a moment to wish it Happy Birthday