Today is Flag Day. Flag Day is celebrated each year on June 14. Flag Day commemorates the adoption of the flag of the United States, which happened that day by resolution of the Second Continental Congress in 1777. In 1916 President woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation that officially established Flag Day on June 14. In 1949, National Flag Day was established by an Act of Congress. Flag Day is not an official federal holiday. The President of the United States is the one that officiates the celebration. Flag Day is a state holiday only in Pennsylvania. It began in the town of Rennerdale. Title 36 of the U.S. Code Subtitle I Part A Chapter 1 is the official statute on Flag Day. Flag Day has long been celebrated in some U.S. towns. Quincy, Massachusetts held its first Flag Day celebration in 1952. Appleton, Wisconsin has held Flag Day parades for years. The Largest Flag Day parade is in Troy, New York. It has 50,000 spectators. The oldest Flag Day celebration began in Fairfield, Wisconsin in 1909 or 1910.
There have been various individuals and organizations that have been instrumental in establishing a National Flag Day celebration over the years. The names of the different individuals and organizations involved in celebrating Flag Day in their communities are George Morris in Hartford, Connecticut in 1861, George Bolch in 1889, Elizabeth Duane Gillespie in 1893, etc. Thanks to all the contributions from these individuals in promoting Flag Day.
There's been a historical misconception that Betsy Ross was the one responsible for sewing the first American Flag. However, it's been stated by historians she didn't play a part in designing the first American flag. She was a seamstress and did sew flags, but she supposedly didn't sew the first American flag. History states that Francis Hopkinson, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, played a role in helping to design the first American flag. He wasn't the only figure responsible for the design of the American flag, either.
What does the American flag represent? It contains 50 white stars, which represent 50 states, 13 white stripes, which represent the 13 colonies that rebelled against Great Britain. The 13 red stripes supposedly represent the color of the British because that's one of Great Britain's colors. What do the colors represent? The color white represents purity. Red represents blood, war, and courage. Blue represents justice and freedom. Whenever I see the color red I think of all the soldiers throughout the history of time that have shed their blood on the battlefield that we as Americans may enjoy the freedom we enjoy today. My mind also goes further back than that. I think of the Lord Jesus Christ that went to Calvary to die on an old rugged cross for the sins of mankind. He shed his blood that we may be pardoned from sin. Our freedom from sin was bought by Jesus on Calvary. As a result of the sacrifice Jesus made at Calvary, we as Americans have the privilege to enjoy the freedoms we do today in America. It's really amazing because it takes the shedding of blood to purchase freedom--not only spiritually but also politically as well. We as Americans (including myself) enjoy the right to free speech, protest, assembly, and the list continues because of the sacrifices of our soldiers in foreign lands to ensure and protect the freedoms that America enjoys today. Thank God for America and for the price that was paid not only on the battlefield but on Calvary's cross. Without the shedding of blood on Calvary's cross, we wouldn't enjoy the freedom as Americans like we do today. Most importantly, we wouldn't have the opportunity to experience the free pardon of sin. Let's remember the price that was paid by our soldiers when we see the flag of the United States. May it wave high!
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