Flag Day Commemorates the Adoption of ‘Old Glory’ as USA’s Official Flag

BY BARRY WARNER

On May 30, 1916 President Woodrow Wilson issued a presidential proclamation establishing a National Flag Day. This Saturday, June 14, 2014 will commemorate the adoption of ‘Old Glory’ as the official flag of the United States in 1777 by resolution of the Second Continental Congress.

The American flag, also nicknamed ‘star spangled banner,’ has changed designs over the centuries. It consists of 13 equal horizontal stripes of red, alternating with white and a blue rectangle bearing 50 small, white, five-pointed stars, with each of the 50 stars representing one of the 50 states in the United States and the 13 stripes represent the original 13 colonies that became the first states in the Union.

New City resident Damian Dobrosielski said, “It is important to me to display the American flag. My father served our country and seeing the flag gives me an overwhelming sense of pride and patriotism.”

Many Americans celebrate Flag Day by displaying the ‘red, white and blue’ in front of their homes and businesses. They sing, pledge, salute and pay respect to the flag as a symbol of our country’s democracy and independence.