Flag Day
Source: Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division
History
Flag Day is celebrated on June 14 and commemorates the adoption of the flag of the United States at the Second Continental Congress in 1777. According to most accounts, the first Flag Day celebration was held in Waubeka, Wisconsin in 1885 by grade-school teacher Bernard J. Cigrand.[1] Cigrand’s efforts developed into a widespread practice of honoring the flag on June 14, and by the early twentieth century, many political leaders and organizations had established formal celebrations of the holiday.[2] With their encouragement, President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation requesting that June 14 be designated as Flag Day. In 1949, Congress finally enacted the proclamation and established the date as a federal holiday, calling for all government officials to display the flag on government buildings and urging all Americans to observe the holiday.[3]
Today, the week of June 14 is designated as National Flag Week, during which the President issues a proclamation encouraging all Americans to fly the flag for the week.[4] Many communities and organizations hold events during this week to celebrate the flag and all it represents and to honor the men and women who represent the United States.
Endnotes
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↑ 1
See James L. Brown, The Real Bernard J. Cigrand: ‘The Father of Flag Day’ (2001).
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↑ 2
See History of Flag Day, United States Flag Store, http://www.united-states-flag.com/flag-day-history.html (2006).
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↑ 3
See 36 U.S.C. § 110 (1998).
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↑ 4
See History of Flag Day, supra note 2.
Discussion Questions
Discussion Questions for Flag Day:
- What meaning does the flag hold for you? Share a moment when you felt particularly strong thoughts or emotions upon seeing the American flag.
- What does it mean to choose to display the American flag—for instance, on the front of your home or on your clothing?
- How do you regard the act of modifying the flag to support specific causes or groups? What does the use of the flag intend to communicate?
- Many Americans view the flag as sacred. However, the Supreme Court has also protected flag burning as free speech. Reflect on this tension. How should we regard constitutionally protected activities we find objectionable?
Further Resources
For classic poems and readings about the American flag, see Henry Ward Beecher, The American Flag, in Flag Day; Its History 17 (Robert Haven Schauffler ed., 1912); John Jay Daly, A Toast to the Flag, in 101 Patriotic Poems, Songs and Speeches 73 (McGraw-Hill 2003); Edward S. Holden, The Meaning of the American Flag, in Flag Day; Its History 26 (Robert Haven Schauffler ed., 1912); Minna Irving, Betsy’s Battle Flag, in Every Day of the Year (James & Mary Ford eds., 1902), available at http://democraticthinker.wordpress.com/2010/07/12/betsys-battle-flag/; Howard Schnauber, My Name is Old Glory, in Stars & Stripes Forever 108 (Richard H. Schneider ed., 2003); and Frank L. Stanton, Our Flag Forever, in Flag Day; Its History 103 (Robert Haven Schauffler ed., 1912).
For present-day children’s books on Flag Day, see Sheri Dean, Flag Day (2010); and Mir Tamim Ansary, Flag Day (2006).
The Star-Spangled Banner is of course a most appropriate song to sing on this holiday (the words and music can be found among our Independence Day songs).
For a Supreme Court decision discussing the significance of the flag, see Texas v. Johnson, 491 U.S. 397 (1989) (“Pregnant with expressive conduct, the flag as readily signifies this Nation as does the combination of letters found in ‘America.’”). The Supreme Court has since found the Constitution’s freedom of speech guarantee includes the right of citizen to burn the flag as form of expression.[1]
Endnotes
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↑ 1
United States v. Eichman, 496 U.S. 310 (1990).
Trivia Challenge
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