Our Nation’s Flag
“When we honor our flag, we honor what we stand for as a nation; Freedom, Equality, Justice and Hope.”
~President Ronald Reagan
Tomorrow, June 14th is National Flag Day and I would like to take a moment to share some information about our country’s flag. In these tumultuous times in our country as we head towards a hotly contested presidential election this fall I believe that no matter which side of the political spectrum you’re on, it is important to understand the history of the flag we raise as a nation. When we thing of our nation’s first flag, many of us think of Betsy Ross and her hand sewn handy work but the reality is that there were several different flags that represented the different colonies before the brand new United States settled on a standard flag to represent the fledgling country. In May of 1776, Betsy Ross reveals a flag of thirteen stripes (seven red and six white) with a square patch of a blue field in the upper left hand side and within that blue field a circle of thirteen white stars. Even though there were several other flag designs at the time, the Continental Congress of 1777 resolved on June 14th that a national flag would be adopted, “Resolved: that the flag of the United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation.” On that day the Betsy Ross style flag was adopted as our national standard and this is why we celebrate Flag Day every year on June 14th.
The Pledge of Allegiance was first published in a magazine called "The Youth's Companion," written by Francis Bellamy in 1892 and the phrase “Under God” are inserted into the pledge by an act of congress in 1954. In the late 1890’s the country has a growing movement to protect the flag from desecration born in reaction to perceived commercial and political misuse of the flag and though no federal regulations were in place, several states took it upon themselves to create desecration legislation to protect the flag. It wasn’t until 1942 when President Roosevelt signed into law the Federal Flag Code which outlines unifying customs and manners in which to fly the United States Flag. The Flag Code does not prescribe any penalties for non-compliance nor does it include any enforcement provisions, rather it functions simply as a guide for voluntary civilian compliance. In 1968 the federal government finally steps forward with a federal law forbidding the desecration of the United States Flag after a much publicized flag burning took place in Central Park (New York, New York) in protest to the US armed involvement in Vietnam. Over the past forty years, there have been several legal cases and lawsuits brought against different persons who have knowingly violated the US flag in protest against the federal government and over the years the flag desecration laws have been amended and shaped to reflect people’s rights under free speech.
Despite all the craziness…ups and downs…ins and outs…I always get a feeling of pride when I see the flag waving from atop a flag pole. I know our country is far from perfect and I don’t pretend otherwise but it is my country and I will never stop working and wishing for it to be the best and represent the best for all of us who live here. Thus ends my flag waiving for today, thank you all for reading and as the week moves forward, I hope you all have a good week. Remember to take care of yourself and each other, after all, we’re all in this together.
Wm Reid
Best Home Care Services
325 N Eastern Ave
Connersville, IN 47331
765-827-9833
wmreid@bhcshealth.com