Flag Day is celebrated on June 14 and commemorates the date in 1777 when the second Continental Congress approved the design for the fledgling nation’s official flag by passing the Flag Act, which stated, “Resolved, that the flag of the thirteen United States be thirteen stripes alternating red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation.” While the number of stripes remains fixed at 13 to represent the original 13 colonies, the number of stars continues to represent the union between the states and increased over time so that number of stars accurately reflected the number of states as they were incorporated into the union.

Since 1916, Flag Day has been observed nationally when President Woodrow Wilson issued an official proclamation, but it wasn’t until 1949 that the holiday was established by an Act of Congress under President Harry S. Truman. Truman’s 1949 Flag Day proclamation conveys the symbolic meaning of the American flag and encourages Americans to engage in patriotic observance of our national emblem.

WHEREAS the American flag, which has become the symbol of our freedom was adopted by the Continental Congress on June 14, 1777; and

WHEREAS it is our custom to observe June 14 each year with ceremonies designed not only to commemorate the birth of our flag but also to rededicate ourselves to the ideals for which it stands; and

WHEREAS this beloved emblem, which flies above all our people of whatever creed or race, signalizes our respect for human rights and the protection such rights are afforded under our form of government:

NOW, THEREFORE, I, HARRY S. TRUMAN, President of the United States of America, do hereby ask that on Flag Day, June 14, 1949, the people of the Nation honor our colors by displaying them at their homes or other suitable places and by giving thanks for their privileges as citizens under this flag as well as by engaging in earnest contemplation of the obligations inherent in citizenship. I also direct the appropriate officials of the Government to display the flag of the United States on all Government buildings on Flag Day.

On Flag Day in 1986, President Ronald Reagan said, “Let us never forget that in honoring our flag, we honor the American men and women who have courageously fought and died for it over the last 200 years – patriots who set an ideal above consideration of self and who suffered for it the greatest hardships. Our flag is free today because of their sacrifice.” The American flag represents the promise our great country to our troops and veterans; it is a symbolic representation of why they serve. The image of the stars and stripes held aloft causes us to reflect on our military as well, and remember that indeed our flag is free today because of their service.

We give thanks for our privileges as citizens under our flag, and on Flag Day we honor our colors by displaying them at our homes (or other suitable places), and we think you should, too. In fact, we have some suggestions to help you do just that.

Our flag is indeed free because of the patriots who bravely serve our country. To help you reflect on our military on Flag Day, we suggest raising a toast in our Camo Flag Whiskey Glass.

We think that a highly suitable place to honor the stars and stripes is wrapped around your beer. If you are wearing your American flag gear for Flag Day, your beer should be dressed appropriately as well:

Another suitable place to honor the flag is on the wall in your home. With our 12 Gauge American Flag Wall Art, you can both go big and stay home this flag day.

No matter how you choose to honor the Star-Spangled Banner this Flag Day, join us as we rededicate ourselves to the ideals for which it stands.