Thursday, June 14, 2012

A Day to Remember...Flag Day!

An American Summer...
An American Summer is red, white, and blue.  Beginning with Memorial Day and on into July, these colors are inseparable from our vacation days and celebrations.  Today is Flag Day and the streets of my home town are lined with flags.  The Boy Scout Troops in the LDS Wards set up the flags for each flag holiday throughout the year...this is how they raise funds for their activities.  They learn flag ettiquette and how to care for this precious symbol.  I'm so proud of these young people and I admire the example set by the boys' leaders.  Only the hardest of hearts could fail to swell at the sight of so many flags.

Flag Days Origins...

Flag Day was officially signed into law by President Harry Truman in 1949, but has been celebrated for over 200 years.  But what are it's true origins?  From the National Flag Day Foundation website I found the following information: 

"The “Stars and Stripes”, the official National symbol of the United States of America was authorized by congress on that Saturday of June 14, 1777 in the fifth item of the days agenda. The entry in the journal of the Continental Congress 1774-1789 Vol. Vlll 1777 reads “Resolved that the flag of the thirteen United States be Thirteen stripes alternate red and white: that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation.”"


"In Waubeka, Wisconsin, in 1885 Bernard John Cigrand a nineteen year old school teacher
 in a one room school placed a 10” 38 star flag in an inkwell and had his students write essays on what the flag meant to them. He called June 14th the flag’s birthday. Stony Hill School is now a historical site. From that day on Bernard J. Cigrand dedicated himself to inspire not only his students but also all Americans in the real meaning and majesty of our flag."

 
God Bless Our Flag!


I am so grateful to Nan of Retired in Alaska for her gentle reminder that today is Flag Day.
May we each take a moment to consider the meaning of those colors....Red, White, and Blue.

Have a lovely Flag Day!
I am so embarrassed by the bad formatting today...blogger is being a pain.

8 comments:

Swanky Salvage Decor said...

Shirley, what a nice way to celebrate our flag! I'll bet alot of people don't know what Flag Day is all about, I didn't until my son was born on this day. Thank you for the history lesson on this holiday!

Tammy's in Love said...

I just love the vintage graphics you posted! Flag was flying at my house and pulled in when the rains came around 11:00 a.m. Flag Day is my half birthday and my BFF made me a confetti cake and provided flag presents! A fun and colorful day!

Tammy

Linda Ruthie said...

I also thanked Nan for the reminder this morning. Your post was wonderful and such lovely images, some I haven't seen before.

Chenille Cottage said...

Thank you, Shirley, for this most important post! There are still many in our nation who are patriotic and appreciate our beautiful flag.
I appreciate the many posts you have prepared that have covered pieces of history. the good olde days they were for so many of us!
I hope you have a blessed weekend, my sweet friend!
Carolynn xo

vintage grey said...

Beautiful post! Thank you for sharing about Flag Day. I appreciate you doing this. Our flag has been flying high at our home, and what a blessing it is to be daily reminded of our amazing country! Have a blessed day! xo Heather

LBP said...

Beautiful post! I promptly hung our flag out on our front porch at work!

The Cottage Market {Andrea} ♥ said...

what a WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONDERFUL post my friend! Long may it wave!!! this should be featured some place that tons of people get to see it!!! thank you for sharing with us and i will take your decree to heart with the scale : ) i kind of like the sound of it -- maybe the top could be turquoise checkerboard??? : ) sending hugs...

Unknown said...

Hugs.