What is Flag Day?
During the American revolution there was no standard flag to use for the American upstarts, and indeed until the Declaration of Independence there was no clear decision to become independent. Most regiments fighting against the British used their own regimental flags. The first American flag had 13 stripes horizontal but the upper left corner (the canton) was the British Union Jack known as the Continental colors. Not exactly a statement of independence. The Sons of Liberty were using 9 vertical stripes and some versions show 13 horizontal stripes. A very interesting flag that is now in use today. The British banned the use of the Sons of Liberty flag.
George Washington realized flying the continental colors that had the British flag in the canton was too similar to the enemy flag, not a real confidence booster for the troops. He turned his efforts to finding that new flag for this fledgling nation. Washington’s headquarters flag was a 13 white 6 pointed stars on a blue field.
On June 14, 1885, Wisconsin school teacher Bernard Cigrand originated the idea for an annual observance to be celebrated across the country. He lobbied year after year in an attempt to have an official National Flag Day established by the United States government.
On jun 14, 1777 the Second Continental Congress was busy writing the articles of confederate but they took a break to describe the flag that should be used. This resolution stated “the flag of the United States be 13 stripes, alternate red and white,” and that “the union be 13 stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation.” The first American flag was born. Sometimes the Betsy Ross flag is thought of as the first but nope that was much later.
While this day was the day that the flag was “created” it took over a 100 years for President Woodrow Wilson to mark the anniversary of that decree by officials establishing Jun 14 as flag day.
The Hopkinson Flag was regarded as the first flag.
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