Flag Day

***There's just something about seeing the American flag fluttering in the wind that makes me happy. Today is Flag Day!

***From Guideposts.org:

June 14th is Flag Day, a day to honor the creation of the American flag. While you probably know the pledge to our Star Spangled Banner by heart, some of these Flag Day facts may come as a surprise. Before you get to ready to display your Stars and Stripes this year, learn about the reason for its signature look, how a high school student influenced its current design, and other things you might not know about the American flag.

THE FLAG ACT

It may seem like Old Glory has been around since the pilgrims first landed at Plymouth, but the official adoption of  the American flag actually didn't happen until June 14, 1777, when the Second Continental Congress met in Philadelphia to pass the Flag Act of 1777. The resolution created an official flag for the country, just a little over a year after the Declaration of Independence was issued. The Act also gave some guidelines for the new flag, mainly that it “be made of thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new Constellation.” 

WORK IN PROGRESS

Before we settled on our current Stars and Stripes, we tested out quite a few designs. All together, there have been 27 different versions of the flag. Most of the alterations are due to new states being added. The current design dates back to July 4, 1960, when the 50th star was added to represent Hawaii, which became the 50th state in 1959.

Click on the link for more.

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***
You're a Grand Old Flag
George M. Cohan
There's a feeling comes a-stealing
And it sets my brain a-reeling
When I'm list'ning to the music of a military band
Any tune like "Yankee Doodle"
Simply sets me off my noodle
It's that patriotic something
That no one can understand
"Way down South in the land of cotton"
Melody untiring
Ain't that inspiring!
Hurrah! Hurrah! We'll join the jubilee
And that's going some
For the Yankees, by gum!
Red, white and blue
I am for you
Honest, you're a grand old flag
 
You're a grand old flag
You're a high-flying flag
And forever in peace may you wave
You're the emblem of
The land I love
The home of the free and the brave
Ev'ry heart beats true
Under red, white and blue
Where there's never a boast or brag
But should old acquaintance be forgot
Keep your eye on the grand old flag
 
I'm a cranky hanky panky
I'm a dead square honest Yankee
And I'm mighty proud of that old flag
That flies for Uncle Sam
Though I don't believe in raving
Ev'ry time I see it waving
There's a chill runs up my back
That makes me glad I'm what I am
Here's a land with a million soldiers
That's if we should need 'em
We'll fight for freedom!
Hurrah! Hurrah! For ev'ry Yankee tar
And old G.A.R.
Ev'ry stripe, ev'ry star
Red, white and blue
Hats off to you
Honest, you're a grand old flag
 
You're a grand old flag
You're a high-flying flag
And forever in peace may you wave
You're the emblem of
The land I love
The home of the free and the brave
Ev'ry heart beats true
Under red, white and blue
Where there's never a boast or brag
But should old acquaintance be forgot
Keep your eye on the grand old flag




I had never heard that second verse with the cranky hanky panky. :-)

***

Image result for american flag quotes

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