For more than two hundred years, the United States of America has been a sovereign nation. The American flag is recognized and honored as the enduring emblem representing our country’s sovereignty. It is steeped in sacred symbolism and tradition; from the purpose of every star, stripe and color on the flag to the meaning of each of the thirteen folds when preparing the flag to be presented in solemn respect of someone who died after serving our great country.
The Origin of Flag Day
On June 14th of each year, we recognize Flag Day. It is an opportunity to reflect on our deep appreciation and respect of our country’s enduring symbol of freedom and pride.
On June 14, 1777, the Second Continental Congress passed a resolution adopting the United States flag, stating “the flag of the United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white,” and that “the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation.”
The first general observance of Flag Day didn’t take place until the 100th anniversary of the Flag Resolution of 1777. However, it was a small-town Wisconsin teacher named Bernard Cigrand who, in 1885, originated the idea of making June 14th a yearly national observance to show respect for our nation’s flag.
In 1916, June 14th was finally proclaimed the official date for Flag Day by President Woodrow Wilson, and the U.S. Congress didn’t permanently establish the date as National Flag Day until 1949.
It is now a day observed nationwide every year, with some towns and cities even having parades in honor of our country’s flag.
Twenty-Seven Versions of the American Flag
The original American flag had thirteen stars and thirteen stripes to represent the American colonies. The number of stripes has remained the same as a continued tribute to the original colonies. However, every time another colony joined the Union of States another star was added to the flag until we reached the fifty stars in our current flag.
The last state joined the union in 1958. The current version of the flag is the only one to have lasted more than fifty years.
Rules Dictate Treatment and Display of the Flag
As the most revered and recognized symbol of our country, there are many strict rules which have been adopted dictating the treatment and proper displaying of the flag. For example, one of the many guidelines pertaining to the position and manner of display of the American flag states, “(e) The flag of the United States of America should be at the center and at the highest point of the group when a number of flags of States or localities or pennants of societies are grouped and displayed from staffs.”
Egregious Violation of Flag Etiquette
Congress passed a joint resolution in 1942 that encompassed what is now referred to as the U.S. Flag Code. Recently, the current President occupying the White House completely disregarded this congressionally adopted guideline when displaying the flag of a divisive social movement centered between two American flags. To make the matter even worse, it was displayed in that disgraceful manner hanging prominently from the front of the people’s White House just days before Flag Day.
Many consider this very blatant public violation of flag etiquette as an intentional sign of disrespect for the country and its people, as well as an act of political divisiveness. At the very least, it was a blatant display of ignorance. This grave error should be followed by a deep and heartfelt apology from the President to the American people, especially to all American veterans.
Americans Can Pick Up Where Federal Leadership Fails
This Flag Day, Americans should respond to the President’s blatant violation of flag etiquette by prominently displaying the American flag on June 14th. Show the White House the American people love their symbol of American freedom and pride and want our sovereign nation’s flag shown the respect it is due.
Likewise, Americans’ can take a stand against federal divisiveness, overreach, and mismanagement by stepping up their support for calling a Convention of States, as outlined in Article V of the Constitution. Our federal leadership is continually disrespecting and failing American citizens in so many ways, to such a degree that they can’t even be bothered to properly display our country’s most sacred symbol. We the people have the power and a constitutional means to reclaim our country, we just need enough Americans to have the will to do something about it.
Will you join us?
