FLAG DAY, JUNE 14, 1777

 

I think of myself as a patriot. I believe the United States is the greatest country in the world. We have a lot of problems, but if we can get back to the way the Founding Fathers meant for it to be, we’ll be in better shape. We fly our flag year-round and when June gets here, I bring out the Americana decorations. I remember saying the Pledge of Allegiance at school and celebrating Lincoln’s and Washington’s birthdays. With Flag Day being earlier this month, I decided to find out the history. How it began and how long it took for the United States to honor it.

                              

In 1777, the Continental Congress decided our country needed a flag. They made a resolution on June 14, 1777 that stated, “The flag of the United Stated shall be of thirteen stripes of alternate red and white, with a union of thirteen stars of white on a field of blue, representing the new constellation.” The new flag was carried into the Battle of Brandywine on September 11, 1777.

 It’s generally believed that Betsy Ross made that first flag, although it can’t be proved with documentation, according to the US Flag Store. They said there were around fifty flag makers and upholsterers in Philadelphia at that time. The Philadelphia Incorporated tells a different story. Apparently, Betsy had receipts for a large sum of money paid to her in May 1777 to make flags. It’s possible the first American flag was one she made. She continued in her career for fifty years.

On June 14, 1861, it was reported that Hartford, Conneticut held a Flag Day celebration. Almost three decades later, a New York City Professor George Bloch, principal of a free kindergarten for the poor, had his school hold patriotic ceremonies to celebrate the Flag Day resolution. The State Department of Education noticed and had all public schools observe the day from then on.

 

Late 1800s

The state legislature soon passed a law saying public schools should hold observances of Lincoln’s birthday, Washington’s birthday, Memorial Day and Flag Day. In 1897, New York’s governor passed a resolution mandating all public buildings to display the flag.

After earlier attempts failed, on May 7,1937, Pennsylvania became the first state to declare June 14 a legal holiday. Now it’s celebrated nationwide, but it's only legal in Pennsylvania. Looking back a little bit, we can see that President Wilson, in 1916, and President Coolidge in 1927, issued a proclamation to make June 14 officially Flag Day. Finally, on August 3, 1949, Congress approved the observance of National Flag Day. President Truman signed it into law. 

I thought it was interesting to see how quickly states were added.

1861, 34 States 

1889, 42 States

1897, 45 States

1959, 50 States

Linda lives in west central Ohio with her husband and grandson. She earned a degree in psychology from Anderson University, where she learned that the voices in her head were actually characters from stories waiting to be told.

Linda has been writing since childhood, but her publishing career started with writing columns and a middle-grade serial for the South Charleston Spectator. A retired librarian, she now enjoys being a full-time author in her home office. She writes not only to entertain but to encourage readers with God’s faithfulness.

You are invited to visit her website, Linda Hoover Books, to learn more about her and her books. You can stay in touch when you subscribe to her newsletter, and as a thank you, you’ll receive a novella, Joel & Ella.

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