Flag Day Shines Proud in Alabama and Across America
Celebrates the day in 1777, when the Second Continental Congress selected the Stars and Stripes
Every June 14, we celebrate Flag Day, a day that means a lot to folks here in Alabama. It's all about honoring the day when the Second Continental Congress picked our nation’s flag—the Stars and Stripes—as the symbol of unity and freedom on June 14, 1777.
The very first calls for a day to honor Old Glory came in 1885. Bernard J. Cigrand, a teacher from Waubeka, Wisconsin, urged his students to mark June 14 as “Flag Birthday” Months later, many communities joined in; by 1916, President Woodrow Wilson made it official with a proclamation.
Long after, in 1949, Congress made Flag Day a formal observance—though it’s still not a federal holiday.
Flag Day may not involve big gifts or paid time off—but it holds meaning. A recent AP story explained that the date "commemorates the date in 1777 when the Continental Congress approved the first design of the U.S. flag, symbolizing the union of the original 13 states".
Across the country—and in small towns all around Alabama—people show their respect by flying flags at homes, schools, and veterans’ halls. Communities often host picnics, parades, or essay contests hosted by veterans and civic groups .
This Flag Day, it’s good to pause and ask ourselves: What does that flag mean to us? Are we living with liberty and justice in mind? Are we staying true to unity and respect?
Flag Day might not make us miss work, but it sure gives us a moment to say thanks. Thanks for the brave souls who let that flag wave. Thanks for the unity it brings. And thanks for a nation that’s strong because of that symbol we all share.
