June
Flag Day
Background Information
Flag Day recognizes the June day in 1777 when the
Continental Congress adopted the "Stars and Stripes" as the official
flag of the United States. Following are classroom activities to recognize and
celebrate Flag Day--June 14.
- In 1814, Francis Scott Key wrote a poem, "Defense of Fort
McHenry," when he saw the flag still flying the morning after an attack
by the British. Today, that poem is known by another name: "The
Star-Spangled Banner."
- The Flag Act of 1818 states that a star be added for any new state on the
Fourth of July following that state's admission.
- Flag Day
was observed for the first time in 1877, the 100th anniversary of the
adoption of our country's red-white-and-blue banner.
- Students first said the Pledge of Allegiance in 1892, the 400th
anniversary of Christopher Columbus's arrival in the Americas.
- In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson established Flag Day as an annual
national celebration.
- Congress officially recognized Flag Day by passing the National Flag Day
Bill in 1949, during President Harry Truman's administration.
- In 1983, the world's largest flag was displayed in Washington, D.C. The
flag, which measured 411 feet by 210 feet, weighed 7 tons! Each star
measured 13 feet across!
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