Flag Day

June 14th is National Flag Day. It 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. A teacher from Fredonia, Wisconsin, Bernard J. Cigrand, had the kids in his school observe Flag Day, or, as he called it, Flag Birthday. This observance was also the beginning of Cigrand’s long years of fervent and devoted efforts to bring about national recognition and observance of Flag Day. It wasn't until 1916 that Flag Day was officially named as a holiday. And it wasn't until 1949 that the National Flag Day bill was signed. But teachers and kids had been celebrating it long before that! Did you know that if you like to study flags, then you are a vexillologist!