National Flag Day Celebrated June 14th

The Whitehall cemetery will hold a flag retirement ceremony at 10 AM on June 14th. These organizations can also be addressed with questions on proper flag etiquette.

Let us remember on June 14th, National Flag Day, how our flag was developed, the sacrifices made, its representation of freedom, and its significance to this great nation.

National Flag Day will be celebrated on June 14th to honor the American flag. On June 14, 1777, the Continental Congress proposed that the United States have a national flag instead of the British Union Jack. The resolution read: Resolved, that the flag of the United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field representing a new constellation. Then on June 14, 1877, the flag was flown from every government building in honor of the centennial of the adoption of a national flag. The first official Flag Day was observed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1893 with New York proclaiming June 14th as Flag Day 1897. Inspired by these three decades of state and local celebrations, Flag Day - the anniversary of the Flag Resolution of 1777 - was officially established by the Proclamation of President Woodrow Wilson in 1916. Flag Day was celebrated in various communities for years after Wilson's proclamation until August 3rd, 1949, when President Truman signed an Act of Congress designating June 14th of each year as National Flag Day. The colors of the flag gained specific meaning when the Great Seal was developed in 1782. Charles Thompson, Secretary of the Continental Congress, reporting to Congress on the Seal, stated: ”The colors of the pales (the vertical stripes) are those used in the flag of the United States of America; White signifies purity and innocence, Red, hardiness & valor, and Blue, the color of the Chief (the broad band above the stripes) signifies vigilance, perseverance & justice.”

Americans take the treatment of their flag seriously, and Title 4 of the US Code provides guidelines for proper flag etiquette. The proper display and use of the American flag is the responsibility of every American citizen. A few common customs to observe with the flag are:

1. Display the flag from sunrise to sunset unless a patriotic effect is desired; then, it may be displayed 24 hours a day with proper illumination at night.

2. The President or Governor may authorize the flag to be flown at half-staff upon the death of key individuals as a sign of respect.

3. The flag should never touch the ground, floor, or water beneath it.

4. The flag should never have placed or attached to it any mark, insignia, letter, word, drawing, picture, design, or figure of any nature.

5. When the flag passes by in a parade or ceremony, individuals should stand at attention, facing the flag. Men should remove their hats. The right hand should be placed over the heart.

The question of what to do with a worn-out flag often arises. Section 8(k) of the Flag Code states, “The flag, when it is in such a condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning.” Worn-out flags can be given to the local American Legion Post #24 or VFW Post #4603 at any time for proper disposal.