Flag Day
by Flag Day, celebrated on June 14, was created by a teacher.
Flag day originates back to 1885, when an a teacher in a Wisconsin public school arranged for students to observe June 14 as Flag Birthday. June 14 was chosen because it is the anniversary of “The Stars and Stripes”. The teacher, BJ Cigrand, continued to herald June 14 as Flag Birthday or Flag Day over the years.
In 1889, the State Board of Education of New York officially adopted Flag Day and observed it after a teacher named George Balch planned appropriate ceremonies for his kindergarten class and the children of his school. The Betsy Ross House in Philadelphia held a Flag Day celebrationin 1891, and the following year, the New York Society of the Sons of the Revolution followed suit.
In 1893, the superintendent of the Public Schools of Philadelphia directed that Flag day exercises be held in Independence Square, where school children were assembled, singing patriotic songs and each carrying a small flag. Addresses were also delivered.
In 1894, the governor of New York directed that on June 14, the Flag be displayed on all public buildings. That same year, the American Flag Day Association was created to promote holding Flag Day exercises. On June 14, 1894 the first general public school celebration was held throughout Illinois. More than 300,000 children participated.
In 1916, Flag Day was officially established by President Woodrow Wilson on May 30, 1916; however, it was on August 3, 1949 that President Truman signed an Act of Congress making June 14 Flag day.
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