Today is National Flag Day, Show Your Stars and Stripes

John Donovan, commander of William Bradford Turner Post No. 265 of the American Legion, says Flag Day is near and dear to his heart for several reasons, not the least of which is the fact that Betsy Ross is his great-great-great aunt. 

"Besides sharing a church pew adjacent to George Washington's each Sunday, she was known to be an outstanding seamstress. George Washington desperately needed a flag as a symbol of unity among the 13 colonies forming the new United States of America, and he gave Betsy Ross a pencil sketch of his idea for a flag," he said. "He chose six-pointed stars because they would be easier to make than 5-pointed stars, and he wanted thousands of flags to be quickly made. Betsy quickly folded a piece of cloth and showed him how a five-pointed star could be made with one snip of her scissors, and the rest, as they say, is history."

Residents are urged to fly their flag today, June 14, National Flag Day, and throughout this week, designated National Flag Week.

It all started back on June 14, 1885 when a 19-year-old teacher at Stony Hill School in Waubeka, Wisconsin placed a small 38-star flag in a bottle on his desk and assigned his students essays on the flag and its significance. 

That teenaged teacher, Bernard J. Cigrand, was an American patriot who would eventually become the founder of Flag Day. Born in Wisconsin in 1866, he was a contributing editor of Encyclopedia Americana and the Chicago-based organization known as the Sons of America appointed Cigrand editor-in-chief of its magazine, American Standard.

Cigrand wrote about the recognition and meaning of Flag Day, laws and customs regulating the use of the flag and other articles advocating recognition of the flag's June 14 adoption. 

On the third Saturday in June 1894, more than 300,000 Chicago school children celebrated the first Flag Day. From there, governors, mayors and five U.S. presidents agreed that Flag Day should be observed in all the states on June 14, the official adoption of the flag. 

In 1949, President Harry Truman signed an Act of Congress officially designating June 14 of every year "National Flag Day." Legislation unanimously voted on by Congress in June 2004 states that Flag Day originated in Ozaukee County, Wisconsin, where Cigrand was born. 

For Donovan, the U.S. flag is symbolic in that it represents all that is good about the United States.

"We should give it tremendous respect for that reason," he said. "A flag is a guide-on in military battle. It flies at the front of the battle and symbolically shouts, 'Follow Me!' As a flag would start to fall in battle, another soldier would do his best to keep it from ever hitting the ground, would pick up the task and would move forward with the attitude of 'Follow Me!'" he said.

"To me personally, the flag of the United States represents the ideals of what I want our country to be, the ideal of the good things that this country is, and captures the sacrifices that many Americans have made on the fields of battle, some of them dear personal friends and ex-college roommates who died before their 25th birthday to protect our freedoms," Donovan added. "I know it is just cloth, but that's not the point  ... it's what is needed as a symbol of unity for all the good in this great land."

The National Flag Day Foundation strives to carry on the tradition of the first Flag Day observance, says its president John Janik. The foundation initiates fundraising efforts to support Cigrands' dream to "fittingly commemorate the birthday of the American Flag and to carry the message of our Flag to the future leaders of our great country – our youth."

Stratford School is hosting a Flag Day Assembly (Red, White, & Blue Day) today at 9 a.m. where Donovan will present the Past Commander Thomas J. McCarthy Memorial American Legion Citizenship Award for Citizen of the Year to student Taylor Gladd. The William Bradford Turner Post, named after Garden City's own hero, a Medal of Honor recipient of World War I, is focused on helping and recognizing outstanding efforts of future leaders in Garden City schools. Each year students from elementary school to high school are recognized during award ceremonies.

When To Display The Flag

According to the American Flag Foundation, Inc. the flag should be displayed on all days, but especially on:

• New Year's Day (Jan. 1)
• Inauguration Day (Jan. 20)
• Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday (third Monday in January) 
• Lincoln's birthday (Feb. 12) 
• Washington's birthday (third Monday in February) 
• Easter Sunday - (variable) 
• Mother's Day (second Sunday in May)
• Armed Forces Day (third Saturday in May) 
• Memorial Day (half-staff until noon May 30 and last Monday in May) 
• Flag Day (June 14) 
• Independence Day (July 4) 
• Labor Day (first Monday in September) 
• Columbus Day (second Monday in October) 
• Navy Day (Oct. 27) 
• Veterans Day (Nov. 11) 
• Thanksgiving Day (fourth Thursday in November) 
• Christmas Day (Dec. 25) 
• Other days as may be proclaimed by the president of the United States, including birthdays of states (date of admission) and state holidays.

It is important to remember that when displayed at night, the U.S. flag must be properly illuminated.