By TR Robertson
Next Sunday, June 14th, is a little-known day of celebration few people know very little about – Flag Day. It is not a national federal holiday; everything will be open, but in some states and towns in the U.S., there will be celebrations and events to honor the day. The day commemorates the adoption of the flag of the United States on June 14, 1777, by resolution of the Second Continental Congress. The flag was to have 13 stripes, alternating red and white, representing the first 13 states of the union, and 13 white stars on a blue field representing a new constellation. Our forefathers knew that more stars would most likely be added. President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation in 1916 establishing Flag Day as a recognized day of celebration, not an official federal holiday. In 1937, Pennsylvania was the first state to celebrate Flag Day as a state holiday. The state of New York designated the 2nd Sunday in June as Flag Day. Monday will be the beginning of Flag Week, also celebrated in some states and cities.
Some towns in the U.S. celebrate Flag Day with parades. The following towns have done this in the past – Fairfield, Washington – Appleton, Wisconsin – Quincy, Massachusetts – Troy, New York – Three Oaks, Michigan and the 7th & 8th Wards of Washington, D.C. all have had parades. The first formal observance of Flag Day was in Waubeka, Wisconsin in 1885, held at Stony Hill School. The celebration was organized by teacher Bernard J. Cigrand.
Monday will be the beginning of Flag Week, also celebrated in some states and cities. Flag Day is a part of Flag Week, June 15-19. There will be weekly observances at historic places like the Star-Spangled Banner Flag House in Baltimore, Maryland, the birthplace of the 1813 flag that inspired Francis Scott Key to pen his famous poem. The Flag House has held events since 1927. The Betsy Ross House in Philadelphia also observes Flag Week.
Many do not know that June 14th is also the celebration of the birthday of the United States Army, formed on June 14, 1775. The first army was designated as Riflemen of the American Continental Congress.
June 14th is also the anniversary of the start of the Bear Flag Revolt in California, in 1846, as 33 settlers overthrew the Mexican General in charge of Sonoma, declaring the Bear Flag Republic as an independent nation. The white flag had a bear on it with a red stripe at the bottom and a star representing the California Republic. The Bear Flag would be adopted as the official flag of California when California became the 31st state of the United States in 1850.
So, fly your flags proudly knowing the flag represents a multitude of significant historical events in the United States and in our state of California.
