As June 14th approaches, the United States prepares to observe Flag Day, a national commemoration of the adoption of the Stars and Stripes as the official flag of the nation. Though not a federal holiday with a day off, its history is deeply rooted in efforts to honor this powerful symbol of American identity.
Flag Day marks the resolution passed by the Continental Congress on June 14, 1777, which formally established the design of the U.S. flag: 'thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation'. This resolution effectively 'gave birth' to the nation's banner.
The idea for a national day dedicated to the flag gained traction through the persistent advocacy of several individuals. Bernard J. Cigrand, a Wisconsin schoolteacher, is credited with initiating calls for a 'Flag Birthday' as early as 1885. William T. Kerr of Pennsylvania also played a significant role, founding the American Flag Day Association in 1888.
