 |
Flag Day was first observed in
1877 on the 100th anniversary of the Continental Congress' adoption of the
Stars and
Stripes
as the official flag of the United States. In that year, Congress asked that all public
buildings fly the flag on June 14. The idea quickly caught on and many people wanted to
participate in waving the flag.
One early supporter was B. J. Cigrand, a Wisconsin schoolteacher who wanted June 14 to be
known as "Flag Birthday."
In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed Flag Day as a national celebration.
However, the holiday was not officially recognized until 1949 when President Harry Truman
signed the National Flag Day Bill. In 1996, President Bill Clinton issued the following
proclamation:
By The President
Of The
United States Of America
A Proclamation
There is no better symbol of our country's values and traditions than the Flag of the
United States of America. Chosen by the Continental Congress in 1777, it continues to
exemplify the profound commitment to freedom, equality, and opportunity made by our
founders more than two centuries ago. Our flag's proud stars and stripes have long
inspired our people, and its beautiful red, white, and blue design is known around the
world as a beacon of liberty and justice.
Today, America's Flag graces classrooms, statehouses, courtrooms, and churches, serving
as a daily reminder of this Nation's past accomplishments and ongoing dedication to
safeguarding individual rights. The brave members of our Armed Forces carry "Old
Glory" with them as they fulfill their mission to defend the blessings of democracy
and peace across the globe; our banner flies from public buildings as a sign of our
national community; and its folds drape the tombs of our distinguished dead. The Flag is a
badge of honor to all -- a sign of our citizens' common purpose.
This week and throughout the year let us do all we can to teach younger generations the
significance of our Flag. Its 13 red and white stripes represent not only the original
colonies, but also the courage and purity of our Nation, while its 50 stars stand for the
separate but united States of our Union. Let us pledge allegiance to this Flag to declare
our patriotism and raise its colors high to express our pride and respect for the American
way of life.
To commemorate the adoption of our Flag, the Congress, by joint resolution approved
August 3, 1949 (63 Stat. 492), designated June 14 of each year as "Flag Day" and
requested the President to issue an annual proclamation calling for its observance and for
the display of the Flag of the United States on all Federal Government buildings. The
Congress also requested the President, by joint resolution approved June 9, 1966 (80 Stat.
194), to issue annually a proclamation designating the week in which June 14 falls as
"National Flag Week" and calling upon all citizens of the United States to
display the Flag during that week.
Now, Therefore, I, William J. Clinton, President of the United States of America, do
hereby proclaim June 14, 1996, as Flag Day and the week beginning June 9, 1996, as
National Flag Week. I direct the appropriate officials to display the Flag on all Federal
Government buildings during that week, and I urge all Americans to observe Flag Day and
National Flag Week by flying the Stars and Stripes from their homes and other suitable
places.
I also call upon the people of the United States to observe with pride and all due
ceremony those days from Flag Day through Independence Day, also set aside by Congress (89
Stat. 211), as a time to honor our Nation, to celebrate our heritage in public gatherings
and activities, and to publicly recite the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United
States of America.
In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this seventh day of June, in the year
of our Lord nineteen hundred and ninety-six, and of the Independence of the United States
of America the two hundred and twentieth.
|
