Flag Day is the annual celebration of the history behind the American flag on the anniversary of the American flag’s official creation by the Second Continental Congress on June 14, 1777.
The Stars and Stripes originated as a result of a resolution adopted by the Marine Committee of the Second Continental Congress at Philadelphia on June 14, 1777. The resolution read: “Resolved, that the flag of the United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field representing a new constellation. “
Wisconsin teacher Bernard Cigrand originated the idea for an annual flag day, to be celebrated across the country every June 14, in 1885 and in 1916, President Woodrow Wilson marked the anniversary of that decree by officially establishing June 14 as Flag Day. However, it was not designated as National Flag Day until August 3, 1949, when an Act of Congress designated June 14 of each year as National Flag Day.
Francis Hopkinson, a delegate from New Jersey who signed the Declaration of Independence and designed the Great Seal of the United States, designed the American flag.
Bob Heft, a 17-year-old Ohio student, designed the 50-star American Flag as a project for history class. Heft also sent the flag to his congressman, Walter Moeller, who presented it to President Eisenhower and on July 4, 1960, the president and the high school student stood together as the 50-star flag was raised for the first time.
Author: Mario Lotmore
