Children of the Flag - Postcard Friendship Friday # 14

I've always thought it wonderful that countries of the world each have a flag to represent them!  In America, we celebrate our Flag on June 14.  On that date, in 1777, the Continental Congress passed a resolution specifying that the flag carry 13 stripes and 13 stars. The colors would represent hardiness and valor (red), purity and innocence (white), and vigilance, perseverance and justice (blue).  Over the years, as stars representing each state were added to the flag, the design changed to what it is today--white stars in a field of blue next to red and white stripes .

In 1885, a Fredonia, Wisconsin schoolteacher, B.J. Cigrand, arranged for the students in his school district to celebrate Flag Birthday on  June 14th!

Then, in 1889, George Balch, a kindergarten teacher from New York City, planned similar festivities for his school’s students. In 1893, Philadelphia became the first city to celebrate Flag Day and the following year, New York was the first state to observe June 14th as Flag Day. In 1916, after decades of expanding community observances, President Woodrow Wilson finally established Flag Day on the calendar.

But it wasn’t until 1949, that National Flag Day was officially observed every June 14th. The United States Flag Code, as adopted by Congress, states “The flag represents a living country and is itself considered a living thing.”

Happy Postcard Friendship Friday!