Honor Flag Day

The White House last week issued a press release that includes the presidential proclamation for Flag Day and National Flag Week.

The release details the origin of Flag Day, the country’s endurance and the flag’s symbolism.

“Through the successes and struggles we have faced, the American flag has been ever present,” the release states.

Think about that for a moment. 

Many folks learned in elementary school to face the flag and recite the Pledge of Allegiance.

The flag is a national fixture at sporting events, government offices and campaign headquarters.

It’s been featured in Jasper Johns’ “Flag” painting, donned loosely by Uncle Sam, Lynda Carter wore it as a skintight uniform for her job as Wonder Woman and the 1970’s TV show, “Love, American Style” shaped into a heart.

The flag has been mocked in political cartoons, burned as a sign of protest and desecrated in other public forums as a desperate scream for attention.

But for most folks, the real meaning of the flag is clear when it’s used to blanket the coffins of our military heros -- those who served in WWII, Korea and Vietnam as well as the young bodies of men and women who died recently in Iraq and Afghanistan. 

The American flag is much more than strips of dyed cotton, nylon or hemp. 

It’s a symbol, a reminder of the terror and victories people in the U.S. experienced.

The American flag doesn’t care what side of the political aisle you favor, how much money you have or whom you worship.

Think about that when you see it tomorrow.

What's the American flag mean to you?

Read the full White House release from the Office of the Press Secretary:

Presidential Proclamation--Flag Day and National Flag Week

On June 14, 1777, the Second Constitutional Congress adopted a flag with thirteen stripes and thirteen stars to represent our Nation, one star for each of our founding colonies. The stars were set upon a blue field, in the words of the Congress's resolution, "representing a new constellation" in the night sky. What was then a fledgling democracy has flourished and expanded, as we constantly strive toward a more perfect Union.

Through the successes and struggles we have faced, the American flag has been ever present. It has flown on our ships and military bases around the world as we continue to defend liberty and democracy abroad. It has been raised in yards and on porches across America on days of celebration, and as a sign of our shared heritage. And it is lowered on days of remembrance to honor fallen service members and public servants; or when tragedy strikes and we join together in mourning. Our flag is the mark of one country, one people, uniting under one banner.

When the American flag soars, so too does our Nation and the ideals it stands for. We remain committed to defending the liberties and freedoms it represents, and we give special thanks to the members of the Armed Forces who wear our flag proudly. On Flag Day, and during National Flag Week, we celebrate the powerful beacon of hope that our flag has become for us all, and for people around the world.

To commemorate the adoption of our flag, the Congress, by joint resolution approved August 3, 1949, as amended (63 Stat. 492), designated June 14 of each year as "Flag Day" and requested that the President issue an annual proclamation calling for its observance and for the display of the flag of the United States on all Federal Government buildings. The Congress also requested, by joint resolution approved June 9, 1966, as amended (80 Stat. 194), that the President annually issue a proclamation designating the week in which June 14 occurs as "National Flag Week" and call upon citizens of the United States to display the flag during that week.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim June 14, 2011, as Flag Day and the week beginning June 12, 2011, as National Flag Week. I direct the appropriate officials to display the flag on all Federal Government buildings during that week, and I urge all Americans to observe Flag Day and National Flag Week by displaying the flag. I also call upon the people of the United States to observe with pride and all due ceremony those days from Flag Day through Independence Day, also set aside by the Congress (89 Stat. 211), as a time to honor America, to celebrate our heritage in public gatherings and activities, and to publicly recite the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this tenth day of June, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fifth.

BARACK OBAMA