Sunday is Flag Day in the United States, an unofficial holiday commemorating the adoption of the American flag 243 years ago by the Second Continental Congress on June 14, 1777
People across the United States celebrate Flag Day on June 14 each year to honors Old Glory and commemorates the adoption of the United States flag on June 14, 1777
The Flag Resolution, passed on June 14, 1777, stated: “Resolved, That the flag of the thirteen United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation.”
Colonial troops fought under many different flags with various symbols—rattlesnakes, pine trees, and eagles—and slogans—”Don’t Tread on Me,” “Liberty or Death,” and “Conquer or Die,” to name a few.
This design was created by Francis Hopkinson, a Continental Congressman from New Jersey and a consultant to the design of the Great Seal of the United States.
In 1818, after a few design changes, the United States Congress decided to retain the flag’s original 13 stripes and add new stars to reflect each new state that entered the union.
Today, there are 50 stars, one for each state in the union, but the 13 stripes remain.
Sunday is Flag Day and the National Flag Foundation in Pittsburgh is calling on everyone to fly their American flags.
According to the foundation, regardless of political affiliation, unites us all.
They are also organizing a special “Red, White, And Blue Light Up Night.”
“We’re asking buildings around the country to light up red, white, and blue and it’s remarkable how it’s taken off,” said Romel Nicholas, chair of the National Flag Foundation. “We’re now committed with 41 cities that are agreeing to light up this weekend and we learned that the World Trade Center in New York City has joined our initiative.”
