The Flags of Avon Lake

Happy Flag Day! Flag Day was established to commemorates the adoption of the flag of the United States. It is not a national holiday but a day to recognize the U.S. flag.

According to nationalflagday.com, "The 'Stars and Stripes,' the official national symbol of the United States of America, was authorized by Congress on that Saturday of June 14, 1777 in the fifth item of the day's agenda."

Residents are encouraged to fly the U.S. flag today, and ensuring it's in good condition. Flags that are tattered, torn, ripped or in general disrepair can be retired to the American Legion Post 211 on Walker Road. Flags that have been disposed of at the Legion since last year will be that starts at approximately 5 p.m.

Flag Day Facts:

History

According to timeanddate.com, the Continental Congress replaced the Grand Union flag with the first American flag on June 14, 1777. This new flag featured 13 white stars in a circle on a field of blue and 13 red and white stripes, with one for each state.  Betsy Ross, a Philadelphia seamstress and an official flag maker for the Pennsylvania Navy has been credited with making the first flag, but this has never been officially verified.

Flag Day Become Official

According to usflag.org, the concept of a flag day dates back to 1885 when schoolteacher BJ Cigrand "arranged for the pupils in the Fredonia, Wisconsin Public School, District 6, to observe June 14 (the 108th anniversary of the official adoption of The Stars and Stripes) as 'Flag Birthday'." President Woodrow Wilson established Flag Day in 1914 and President Harry Truman proclaimed June 14 as Flag Day in August 1949. In 1966, Congress requested the week of June 14 become National Flag Week.

The Symbols on the Flag

 “Old Glory” and the “Star-Spangled Banner's” has undergone numerous changes  over the years. It now features 13 equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white, with a blue rectangle in the canton bearing 50 small, white, five-pointed stars. Each star represents one of cuntry's 50 states. The 13 stripes stand for the first states in the union and the original 13 colonies.

How to Observe Flag Day

Many people display the American Flag at their home, office, or public building in honor of Flag Day. Read about proper American Flag etiquette here.

Here's a photo gallery of some of flags, patriotic and not, we've seen flying this summer. If you're flying a flag today, snap a photo and add it to our gallery.