A Legacy of Liberty: Celebrating America’s Flag Day and Its Enduring Symbolism!


On June 14, 1777, the Continental Congress approved the design of a national flag.

Image and Text from the Library of Congress

Since 1916, when President Woodrow Wilson issued a presidential proclamation establishing a national Flag Day on June 14, Americans have commemorated the adoption of the Stars and Stripes in many ways–displaying the flag in front of their homes, parades, and other patriotic observances. Prior to 1916, many localities and a few states had been celebrating the day for years. Congressional legislation designating that date as the national Flag Day was signed into law by President Harry Truman in 1949; the legislation also called upon the president to issue a Flag Day proclamation every year.


Resolved, that the Flag of the thirteen United States shall be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the Union be thirteen stars, white on a blue field, representing a new constellation.

Saturday, June 14, 1777. In Journals of the Continental Congress. v. 8 (1777) p.464. A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation: U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774-1875

According to legend, in 1776, George Washington commissioned Philadelphia seamstress Betsy Ross to create a flag for the new nation. Scholars, however, credit the flag’s design to Francis Hopkinson, who also designed the Great Seal and the first coin of the United States. Even so, Ross most likely met Washington and certainly sewed early American flags in her family’s Philadelphia upholstery shop. To date, there have been twenty-seven official versions of the flag, but the arrangement of the stars varied according to the flag-makers’ preferences until 1912, when President Taft standardized the then-new flag’s forty-eight stars into six rows of eight. The forty-nine-star flag (1959-60), as well as the fifty-star flag, also have standardized star patterns. The current version of the flag dates to July 4, 1960, after Hawaii became the fiftieth state on August 21, 1959.

- Source: https://www.loc.gov/item/today-in-history/june-14/

Related: The Independence Gamble: Inside the Continental Congress of 1776

Caught in the Crossfire: The Battle of Trois-Rivières and Its Dramatic Impact on the American Revolution

Inside the Queen’s Head Tavern: The Historic Gathering That Set the Stage for America's Fight for Independence

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Fascinating History of Ventura County Railway Locomotive No. 2 and Its Role in Southern California's Railroads

Image
 Story and Photos By Ken Hulsey One of the things I truly miss about Southern California is spending leisurely days at the Southern California Railway Museum (formerly known as the Orange Empire Railway Museum). While sifting through an old folder of photographs from a few years ago, I rediscovered a treasure trove of images I took at the museum. The highlight was definitely the museum's operational steam locomotive, the former Ventura County Railway 2-6-2 No. 2. I thought it would be great to share some of these photos with fellow rail enthusiasts.
Read More »

Feeling Lost? Discover How to Protect Your Peace and Embrace Your Next Adventure! | Random Ramblings

Image
Written by Tina Martin I once read that the only person you should compete with is yourself—striving to be better and do better every day. This idea took some reflection because "competition" is a strong word and can stir up negative emotions. Instead, I believe that aiming to improve and make the most of our blessings should simply be our goal. If you don’t feel blessed, you might need help changing your perspective!
Read More »

From Depths to Discoveries: How Expedition Unknown Brings History to Life This Season

Image
 From Warner Bros Global explorer Josh Gates returns for an all-new season of the Emmy® Award-winning series EXPEDITION UNKNOWN, packed with high-stakes adventures and monumental discoveries, premiering Wednesday, June 24 at 9 PM ET/PT on the Discovery Channel. From far-flung jungles and remote waters to vast, unexplored caves, Gates pursues his boldest missions yet, hunting for vanished civilizations, diving deep to document lost wartime wrecks, and chasing groundbreaking evidence behind the world’s most compelling mysteries.  
Read More »

What Does It Really Mean to Be a Man? A Biblical Blueprint for Manhood | Ascend with Pastor Steve

Image
In a culture that often equates manhood with strength, success, status, or self-reliance, the Bible presents a different perspective. In this message, Pastor Steven explores what it truly means to "act like a man" according to Scripture. Drawing from 1 Corinthians 16, this sermon challenges men to take responsibility, stand firm in their faith, lead with humility, serve others sacrificially, and love like Christ. 
Read More »

Bugs Bunny Gets the Boid: Beaky Buzzard’s Wacky Debut!

Image
 Written by Ken Hulsey After taking a month off, I decided that it was time to resurrect one of my most popular features, entitled Retro Cartoon Rewind. As you can probably guess, this series features many of the classic cartoons that were once shown almost exclusively on network television between 6 and 12 in the morning on Saturdays. Most of us from that generation woke up with eager anticipation, knowing that we were about to enjoy several hours of programming aimed solely for kids. For many, these are some of our most treasured memories.
Read More »

Caught in the Crossfire: The Battle of Trois-Rivières and Its Dramatic Impact on the American Revolution

Image
The Battle of Trois-Rivières: A Turning Point in the American Revolution The summer of 1776 was a tumultuous time for the American Revolutionary forces, marked by both bold ambitions and unforeseen challenges. Among the key events of this era was the Battle of Trois-Rivières, a confrontation that would have lasting implications for both American and British military strategies.
Read More »

The Independence Gamble: Inside the Continental Congress of 1776

Image
The Path to Independence: A Pivotal Moment in History As we look back at the tumultuous events leading up to the American Revolution, one point is particularly crucial: the deliberations within the Continental Congress during the summer of 1776. On June 10 of that year, Congress took a significant step towards independence by appointing a committee made up of five key figures to draft a Declaration of Independence. This famed committee comprised Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Robert R. Livingston, and Roger Sherman, with Jefferson tasked with the momentous job of authoring the statement that would articulate the colonies’ intentions toward their governance and relationship with Great Britain.
Read More »

From Jackpot Dreams to Spiritual Riches: Why Losing Can Be a Blessing in Disguise

Image
 Photo and Story by Ken Hulsey This past weekend, my wife found one of the old pictures that I actually didn't have in my archives. It is a photo of a lonely desert road in Nevada that she rendered in stark black and white. I think that the image in this form conveys a true sense of emptiness.  Terri labeled this photo 'On The Road to Vegas', a road that I have traveled down numerous times. On the road towards Las Vegas, your mind is preoccupied with thoughts of winning a jackpot at a slot machine or game table. There is an optimism that somehow Lady Luck is going to shine her grace upon you, and all your financial worries will be over. Since you are about to become rich, you can't help but fantasize about how big a house you are going to buy and what it would be like to dive into a huge pool of gold coins like Scrooge McDuck.
Read More »