In 1885, in the small town of Fredonia, Wisconsin a school teacher arranged for that district to observe June 14th as  the Flag’s Birthday. This point in history was the 108th anniversary of the official adaption of the stars and stripes. By 1889, the State Board of Education of New York adopted the observance.  In 1891, the Betsy Ross house held a celebration. In a 1914, a Flag Day speech read “I am what you make me; nothing more. I swing before your eyes as a bright gleam color, a symbol of yourself”.

The proclaimed president Woodrow Wilson established June 14th as Flag Day in 1916. It wasn’t until 1949, when President Truman signed the Act of Congress truly making June 14th Flag Day and a national holiday.

Celebrations around the country are going on today. Three cities stand out as some of the longest running flag day parades in the U.S. Quincy, Massachusetts & Appleton, Wisconsin began their parades in 1952. Troy, New York will bring the largest crowd averaging about 50,000 people.

It is also proclaimed that this week be National Flag Week. So hang up your flag and show off those stripes!