When it comes to waving the flag no day tops July 4, but in fact the day to actually celebrate the flag happens a few weeks earlier on June 14 with the much lesser known holiday “Flag Day.”
While not an official federal holiday – meaning banks are open and mail is delivered among other things – some cities around the country pull out all stops to honor Old Glory, as the flag is known. One often asked question is why such a holiday exists – here is the answer to that along with some other facts about the flag of the United States and Flag Day.
1. what other names has the American flag had?
The American flag is known by several nicknames including: the Stars and Stripes; Red, White and Blue; Old Glory; and the Star Spangled Banner.
2. what was the first flag of the u.s.a.?
The first national flag of the United States of America was the “Continental Colors,” also known as the “Grand Union Flag.” While it consisted of 13 alternating red and white stripes – much like the current flag – it had the British Union Flag in the upper corner. Two factoids are also worth mentioning about this particular flag: first, the flag lacked the St. Patrick’s blue cross that was added to the Union flag in 1801; and a quite similar flag was used by the British East India Company.
3. did betsy ross design the first flag?
Despite the long standing story, Betsy Ross didn’t design the first flag. As noted, the red and white stripes were already in use. Francis Hopkinson of New Jersey, who was a naval flag designer as well as a signer of the Declaration of Independence, was responsible for the first flag to feature 13 stars. However, his design featured six-pointed stars arranged in a row. The story around Ross creating the design has largely been attributed to her grandson, William Canby, who popularized Ross’s efforts nearly a century after the flag was adopted.
4. Why do We Celebrate on June 14?
Regardless of who created the original design, Flag Day is celebrated on June 14, because it was on this day in 1777 that the Stars and Stripes was adopted by resolution of the Second Continental Congress. It is also worth noting that the United States Army also celebrates it birth on the same day.
5. who helped flag day get its start?
More than 100 years passed before George Balach, a kindergarten teacher from New York City, organized a ceremony for the children of his school on June 14, 1889. This observation was adopted by the State Board of Education of New York, and in 1891 the Betsy Ross House in Philadelphia held its first Flag Day celebration.
6. which president established flag day?
President Woodrow Wilson established Flag Day – the anniversary of the Flag Resolution of 1777 – on May 30, 1916; while President Harry S. Truman signed an Act of Congress in 1949 that designated June 14th of each year as National Flag Day.
7. Which state was the last added to the Flag?
The Flag of the United States has evolved over the years since 1777, with a star added for each new state. However, the last change to the flag came on August 21, 1959 when Hawaii was admitted to the union. This is the longest duration to date without a change to the flag.
