Flag Day

 


It's Flag Day here in the U.S.  I've written about this before:  https://bfthsboringblog.blogspot.com/2018/06/june-14.html.  What do you know about this holiday?  Let me put out some facts 

  • On June 14, 1777 the Second Continental Congress resolved:  "that the flag of the thirteen United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation."  (No mention of Betsy Ross...unfortunately her story probably is just that and not fact.  Sorry Betsy.")
  • "In 1885, Bernard J. Cigrand, a young schoolteacher in Wisconsin, asked his students to observe what he called the flag's "birthday." He had them write essays on what the Stars and Stripes meant to them... Cigrand spent the rest of his life expanding it. He wrote articles, gave speeches, and pressed anyone who would listen to set aside a day for the flag."  So it was through the efforts of a TEACHER that this day came to be.
  • In 1916 President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation officially establishing June 14 as Flag Day across the country. However...
  • It wasn't until President Harry S. Truman signed an Act of Congress designating June 14 as National Flag Day.

Flag Day would not be around if it weren't for these three men (although they certainly didn't do it alone.)  Two Presidents and one teacher...thank you.

 Now what (supposedly) do the colors of the flag and the pattern stand for?  We probably all know that there are 13 stripes (7 red, 6 white) to represent the 14 original colonies and the 50 stars on the blue background to represent the 50 states.  (Sorry no representation for the territories like Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands and Guam...love you anyway).  The colors themselves stand for:

  •  Red: Valor, bravery, and hardiness.
  • White: Purity, innocence, and liberty
  • .Blue: Vigilance, perseverance, and justice.

These are definitely things we should honor, but sadly, it seems like we don't anymore.  And it's one of the reasons why I don't have a flag hanging up right now.  (Although I would really like to.)  The flag is supposed to mean something.  It's not a prop.  It is supposed to represent who we are (united) and stand for.  But justice, liberty, bravery?  While they exist, they aren't representative of this country as a nation any more.  Or at least that's the way I see it.  And for me that's tragic.

 When my son was little, every year for Flag Day, grades/classes were assigned to either wear red or white.  The students would line up.  The teachers wore dark blue and held stars over their heads.  The principal would stand on a ladder (or maybe it was the bleachers in the gym) and take a photo.  It was meaningful.  The whole school coming together.  I LOVE those photos.  I MISS those photos.  (Sadly this practice ended when the principal retired...https://bfthsboringblog.blogspot.com/2013/06/a-tale-of-two-franks.html)  


 I miss the flag meaning something.  It SHOULD mean something.  I suppose it does, but it doesn't represent our current truth.  When we pledge our allegiance to the flag, something that we should take very seriously, the meaning seems to be lost.  There is no liberty and justice for all.  Maybe there never was, but at least it SEEMED like there could be...

So sadly there is no American flag hanging at my house.  But I hope and pray that one day again the flag will truly represent what it is supposed to stand for.  Then I will proudly display with and pledge my allegiance to the republic for which it stands, ONE Nation with liberty and justice for all.  

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