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Community Corner

Five Things You May Not Know About Flag Day

June 14 is Flag Day, take time out to honor the old "Stars and Stripes."

Every year on June 14, Americans celebrate Flag Day and today is no different.

Besides seeing it fly high at and saluting it a sports games while singing "The Star-Spangled Banner," there are some factoids you might not know about Flags and Flag Day. 

According to the website Holidayinsights.com, there is a right way and a wrong way to display the flag. "The American flag should be held in the highest of regards. It represents our nation and the many people who gave their lives for our country and our flag." See the suggestion below if you plan to fly a flag today.

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1.  If you like to study flags, then you are a Vexillologist.

2. Betsy Ross was a seamstress who sewed for George Washington. In June, 1776, Washington approached her to make the country's first flag.

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3. You can't just burn a flag in your yard or throw it out when it needs to be retired. There is a special ceremony for retiring the flag by burning it. Local Boy Scouts know the proper ceremony and perform it on a regular basis. If you have an old flag, give it to them.  

4. Francis Scott Key is said to have been inspired by the British bombardment of Fort McHenry, and later penned the lyrics to our national anthem as he witnessed the event as British rockets flew overhead as he American Flag waved.

5.The Fourth of July was traditionally celebrated as America's birthday, but the idea of an annual day specifically celebrating the Flag is believed to have first originated in 1885. BJ Cigrand, a schoolteacher, arranged for the pupils in the Fredonia, Wisconsin Public School, District 6, to observe June 14 (the 108th anniversary of the official adoption of The Stars and Stripes) as 'Flag Birthday.' In numerous magazines and newspaper articles and public addresses over the following years, Cigrand continued to enthusiastically advocate the observance of June 14 as 'Flag Birthday,' or 'Flag Day,' according to the website USflagorg.

Proper Ways to Display The Flag

  • The flag is normally flown from sunrise to sunset.
  • In the morning, raise the flag briskly. At sunset, lower it slowly. Always, raise and lower it ceremoniously.
  • The flag should not be flown at night without a light on it.
  • The flag should not be flown in the rain or inclement weather.
  • After a tragedy or death, the flag is flown at half staff for 30 days. It's  called "half staff" on land ,and "half mast" on a ship.
  • When flown vertically on a pole, the stars and blue field , or "union", is at the top and at the end of the pole (away from your house).
  • The American flag is always flown at the top of the pole. Your state flag and other flags fly below it.
  • The union is always on top. When displayed in print, the stars and blue field are always on the left.
  • Never let your flag touch the ground, never...period.
  • Fold your flag when storing. Don't just stuff it in a drawer or box.

(Sources: USFlag.org and Holidayinsights.com)

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