Every year there’s this holiday in June, Flag Day. It’s on the calendar, maybe we see someone mention it. But why do we celebrate Flag Day? What does it mean? How do you celebrate it? Well, we have the answers so keep reading to find out!

Fast Facts

Flag Day is celebrated on June 14 to commemorate and celebrate the U.S. flag being adopted on June 14, 1777
At the time of its adoption by a resolution from Second Continental Congress, the U.S. was newly independent from Great Britain and fighting the Revolutionary War
At the beginning of the Revolutionary War, colonists weren’t fighting under the same flag. The creation of the U.S. flag helped make a united front in the war efforts
The original flag at that time had thirteen stripes, representing each of the 13 colonies, and a union jack which was later changed to stars since it resembled the British flag too closely
While the amount of stars on the flag has changed over time, the thirteen stripes still remain the same
Since 1777, there have been 26 official modifications to the flag
The color white in the flag represents purity and innocence, the red symbolizes hardiness and valor, and blue signifies vigilance, perseverance, and justice
Betsy Ross is thought to have stitched and designed the first U.S. flag, although there is no evidence to support this
In 1949, President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation to make June 14 Flag Day.
Congress approved the holiday by joint resolution
In 1937, Pennsylvania was the first state to celebrate Flag Day as a state holiday
Fairfield, Washington is thought to have the oldest Flag Day celebration parade, beginning around 1909 or 1910
The week of Flag Day, known as “Flag Week” follows a tradition of the president directing the U.S. flag to be flown on all government buildings, and directing all citizens to also display the flag during that week

Flag Guidelines:

Flag Code of the United States Government: 4 USC Ch. 1: THE FLAG
Guidelines for Displaying the Flag, United States VA: Guidelines for Displaying the Flag

Editor’s note: This was slated to run for Flag Day (yesterday, June 14) but unfortunately did not due to health reasons. -EM