The birthday of
the United States of America is Independence Day or Fourth of July. The process for a special day of recognition for our flag
began in 1885 from the effort of a young school teacher in Wisconsin who
assigned his students to write essays on the flag and its significance. Even though Bernard J. Cigrand is recognized
as the person who started the process, he was assisted by other people. George Balch, a kindergarten teacher in New
York City, planned appropriate ceremonies for the children at his school in
1889. His idea to observe Flag Day was
later adopted by the New York State Board of Education. The Betsy Ross House in Philadelphia
celebrated Flag Day in 1891, and the New York Society of the Sons of the
Revolution celebrated Flag Day the following year. All these celebrations took place on June 14.
The National Flag Day Foundation
established
their mission “to carry on the tradition of the first flag day observance. On June 14th, 1885, Bernard J.
Cigrand, a 19-year-old teacher at Stony Hill School, placed a 10 inch, 38-star
flag in a bottle on his desk, then assigned essays on the flag and its
significance. This observance commemorated
Congress’s adoption of the Stars and Stripes as the flag of the United States
on June 14, 1777. This observance was
also the beginning of Cigrand’s long years of fervent and devoted effort to
bring about national recognition and observance of Flag Day. The crowning achievement of his life came at
age fifty when President Wilson, on May 30, 1916, issued a proclamation calling
for a nationwide observance of Flag Day.
Then in 1949, President Truman signed an Act of Congress designating the
14th day of June every year as National Flag Day. On June 14th, 2004, the 108th
U.S. Congress voted unanimously on H.R. 662 that Flag Day originated in Ozaukee
County, Wauneka, Wisconsin.
“The National Flag Day
Foundation joins forces with community groups and individuals that love our
flag and want to keep its traditions alive.
“Our goal is to teach Americanism, using Flag history, enlisting 4-H
groups, VFW, Scouts and other patriots to teach the lessons of our great flag.
“The National Flag Day
Foundation initiates fund raising efforts to support Bernard J. Cigrand’s dream
to fittingly commemorate the birthday of the American Flag and to carry the
message of our Flag to the future leaders of our great country – our
youth. We hope you will join us in our
mission.”
The American flag represents our
independence as well as our unity as a nation because we are “one nation, under
God, indivisible.” We should always show
respect for our flag and what it represents.
We should remember that our flag has flown proudly in every battle
fought by Americans and many people gave their lives protecting it. In battles of every kind – from Tripoli to
the World Trade Center – Americans have raised the flag to show our presence,
unity and strength. Our flag even stands
on the moon to show that Americans conquered space.
Francis Scott Key expressed his
feelings about the flag in our National Anthem “The Star Spangled Banner.” After shells were shot at Fort McHenry all
night long, he rejoiced when he saw the flag still flying.
Oh
say, can you see, by the dawn’s early light,
What
so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming,
Whose
broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight,
O’er
the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?
And
the rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave
proof thru the night that our flag was still there.
Oh
say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O’er
the land of the free and the home of the brave?
On
the shore, dimly seen thru the mists of the deep,
Where
the foe’s haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What
is that which the breeze, o’er the towering steep,
As
it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now
it catches the gleam of the morning’s first beam,
In
full glory reflected now shines on the stream;
Tis
the star-spangled banner! Oh, long may
it wave
O’er
the land of the free and the home of the brave!
Oh,
thus be it ever, when free men shall stand
Between
their loved homes and the war’s desolation!
Blest
with vict’ry and peace, may the heaven’s-rescued land
Praise
the Pow’r that hath made and preserved us a nation!
Then
conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And
this be our motto: “In God is our
trust!”
And
the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O’er
the land of the free and the home of the brave!
May we all appreciate the
opportunity to fly our glorious flag and give appropriate honor to it. May we
remember that it represents our independence and unity as Americans. We should fly our flag every day but
especially on Flag Day. As Americans we
have the right to be proud of our nation and its ensign. As we fly our flags we should make sure that we
display it appropriately as there is a right way and a wrong way to display the
flag. Flag Etiquette is explained as
follows:
·
The
flag is usually flown from sunrise to sunset.
Raise it briskly in the morning; lower it slowly at sunset,
ceremoniously.
·
Never
fly your flag at night without a light on it.
·
Following
a tragedy or death, the flag is flown at “half-staff” for 30 days.
·
When
flown vertically on a pole, make sure the stars and field of blue is at the top
end of the pole.
·
When
flown with other flags, the American flag is always at the top of the pole with
state and other flags below it.
·
Never
let the flag touch the ground.
·
When
your flag is not in use, fold it appropriately before storing it.
·
When
your flag is old and/or tattered, retire it by burning or burying it, not by
throwing it in the trash. Boy Scouts
know the proper ceremony for retiring the flag and can help you dispose of
yours appropriately.
