June 14

Flag Day

The flag of the United States is a symbol of freedom before which Americans recite the pledge of allegiance.  The flag's 13 red and white stripes represent the 13 original colonies.  Its 50 white stars on a blue background represent the 50 states.  The last two states to join the Union were Alaska (49th) and Hawaii (50th).  Both joined in 1959.

It is believed Betsy Ross made the first American flag.  As legend goes, it was George Washington and two other members of the Continental Congress who asked Ross to sew the first American flag sometime in the late spring of 1776.  The young widow was only in her early 20s when she completed the first flag with thirteen stars arranged in a circle.  

On June 14, 1777 Congress adopted the Stars and Stripes as the official flag for the United States of America.

Since then, Americans have fought and died to preserve the ideals of democracy represented by our flag.  In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson officially established June 14th as Flag Day.  

Why red, white and blue?  Red stands for hardiness and courage, white for purity and innocence and blue for vigilance and justice.