Today is Flag Day. Since President Wilson proclaimed June 14 as Flag Day in 1916, America has celebrated this day by flying its flag.
But the idea of Flag Day has its origins going back some thirty years earlier. The Fourth of July was traditionally celebrated as America's birthday, but the idea of an annual day specifically celebrating the Flag is believed to have first originated in 1885. BJ Cigrand, a schoolteacher, arranged for the pupils in the Fredonia, Wisconsin Public School to observe June 14 (the 108th anniversary of the official adoption of The Stars and Stripes) as 'Flag Birthday'. In numerous magazines and newspaper articles and public addresses over the following years, Cigrand continued to enthusiastically advocate the observance of June 14 as 'Flag Birthday', or 'Flag Day'.
America is a flawed country, yes. But it's also the beacon of liberty for the rest of the world, and the most benign and generous superpower the world has ever known. Two weekends ago, I installed a flag bracket on the front of my home, and a big, bright 3' x 5' flag has been gracing it since then.
So fly your flag today, and everyday. And fly it proudly.
No comments:
Post a Comment