In the United States, Flag Day is celebrated on June 14th of each year, commemorating the date of the original adoption of the American flag.
For more than 200 years, the flag has been the symbol of our nation’s strength and unity. It’s been a source of pride and inspiration, and a prominent icon in our national history.
In the infancy of our country, a resolution was made following a report by a special committee which had been assigned to suggest the flag’s design. The mission was to reflect the Founding Fathers’ beliefs and values, and the sovereignty of the new nation. In May of 1776, Betsy Ross reported that she had sewn the first American flag. The U.S. flag was adopted by the Continental Congress on June 14, 1777. The newly designed flag was first carried into battle on September 11, 1777.
The United States flag consists of thirteen horizontal stripes alternating red with white. The thirteen stripes represent the thirteen colonies that originally declared independence from Great Britain; becoming our first states. The white stripes on the flag represent purity and innocence. The red signifies hardiness and courage (although some say the red also represents the blood spilled to protect our country and our freedom). The “canton,” which is the blue rectangle in the upper left, is specifically referred to as the “union.” The blue represents vigilance, justice, and perseverance. The stars on the flag represent the individual states, which has changed the pattern on the flag as new states have been added. The star is a “symbol of the heavens, and the divine goal to which man has aspired.” The original flag had 13 stars appearing in a circular pattern, and the current flag holds fifty stars.
Flag Day was initially established by a proclamation issued by President Woodrow Wilson in 1916. This was followed by an Act of Congress commemorating Flag Day in 1949. Flag Day is not currently recognized as an official federal holiday, although it is at the President’s discretion to officially proclaim the observance.
This week is also recognized as National Flag Week. U.S. citizens are urged to fly the flag for the duration of the week, with some communities holding parades and other events in celebration of our national flag and everything it represents.
This week LP Magazine and leaders from across the loss prevention/asset protection community are in Philadelphia, which is the city where so many of the events that helped spark a nation took place, including the founding of our American flag. Please join us in celebrating our nation’s Flag Day. Especially in light of the tragic events of this past week, it’s important to reflect on the values and beliefs that this country has been built upon, stand strong in the face of adversity, and move forward with the same resilience that has made our nation what it is today.