Today is not a Federal holiday, but to me it should be. Today is Flag Day! President Wilson first proclaimed flag day in 1916. It took Congress until 1949 to make National Flag Day official.
The reason for the date is simple. The Second Continental Congress officially adopted the flag of the United States on this date in 1777. At that time, our nation’s standard was described as alternating red and white stripes with a blue field containing 13 white stars representing a new constellation.
In most other places around the world, flying the flag is primarily something done over official government buildings and on national days. Here in the U.S. businesses fly the flag; homeowners proudly let Old Glory wave above their homes; even drivers cruise our nation’s roadways with the Star Spangled Banner outstretched from their cars and trucks.
I am grateful for the unabashed patriotism we show as Americans. I am filled with joy that we can display the flag from anywhere without restriction. We can literally wear our love of country on our sleeve.
There may be a whole world out there just waiting to be explored, but there’s no place like home.
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