Community Corner
June 14: What You Didn't Know About Flag Day
Observe it Friday, but be sure to follow the rules when you fly the Stars and Stripes.
This post was written by Jennifer Squires.
Flagย Day, a patriotic but often under-appreciated holiday, isย Friday, June 14.ย
Expect to see moreย flagsย that usual out in Kirkland and consider pausing a moment to remember those who have served in the military.ย
Flagย Day's originsย date back to a celebration in Hanford, CT, in 1861.ย Two presidents, Woodrow Wilson and Calvin Coolidge, issued proclamations forย June 14ย to be observed asย Flagย Dayย but it wasn't untilย August 1949 thatย President Harry S. Trumanย proclaimedย June 14ย asย Flagย Day, a nationalย dayย of observance.ย
Since then the President proclaims the commemoration yearlyโPresident Barack Obama did so last weekโand encourages all Americans in the country to display the Stars and Stripes outside their homes and businesses. Individual states determine how they will observe theย day, including ifย flagsย should be flown at half-staff.
If you're going to fly aย flag, take note of the rules.ย
Flagย Day, a patriotic but often under-appreciated holiday, isย Friday, June 14.ย
Expect to see moreย flagsย that usual out in Kirkland and consider pausing a moment to remember those who have served in the military.ย
Flagย Day's originsย date back to a celebration in Hanford, CT, in 1861.ย Two presidents, Woodrow Wilson and Calvin Coolidge, issued proclamations forย June 14ย to be observed asย Flagย Dayย but it wasn't untilย August 1949 thatย President Harry S. Trumanย proclaimedย June 14ย asย Flagย Day, a nationalย dayย of observance.ย
Since then the President proclaims the commemoration yearlyโPresident Barack Obama did so last weekโand encourages all Americans in the country to display the Stars and Stripes outside their homes and businesses. Individual states determine how they will observe theย day, including ifย flagsย should be flown at half-staff.
If you're going to fly aย flag, take note of the rules.ย
Federal law stipulates many aspects ofย flagย etiquette. The section of law dealing with Americanย flagย etiquette is generally referred to as theย Flagย Code.ย
Some general guidelines from theย Flagย Code answer many of the most common questions:
- Theย flagย should be lighted at all times, either by sunlight or by an appropriate light source.
- Theย flagย should be flown in fair weather unless theย flagย is designed for inclement weather use.
- Theย flagย should never be dipped to any person or thing. It is flown upside down only as a distress signal.
- Theย flagย should not be used for any decoration in general. Bunting of blue, white and red stripes is available for these purposes. The blue stripe of the bunting should be on the top.
- Theย flagย should never be used for any advertising purpose. It should not be embroidered, printed or otherwise impressed on such articles as cushions, handkerchiefs, napkins, boxes, or anything intended to be discarded after temporary use. Advertising signs should not be attached to the staff or halyard.
- Theย flagย should not be used as part of a costume or athletic uniform, except that aย flagย patch may be used on the uniform of military personnel, firefighter, police officer and members of patriotic organizations.
- Theย flagย should never have any mark, insignia, letter, word, number, figure, or drawing of any kind placed on it or attached to it.
- Theย flagย should never be used for receiving, holding, carrying, or delivering anything.
- When theย flagย is lowered, no part of it should touch the ground or any other object; it should be received by waiting hands and arms. To store theย flagย it should be folded neatly and ceremoniously.
- Theย flagย should be cleaned and mended when necessary.
- When aย flagย is so worn it is no longer fit to serve as a symbol of our country, it should be destroyed by burning in a dignified manner.
Also,ย June 14ย also marksย the birth of the U.S. Army.
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Know of any Flag Day celebrations in Kirkland?ย Tell us in the comment section below.
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