On June 14, 1777, the
Continental Congress passed the first Flag Act in order to establish an official flag for our new nation.
Lawmakers back then appreciated succinctness:
"Resolved, That the flag of the United States
be made of thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a
blue field, representing a new Constellation."
It took a bit longer for the
It’s believed, according to USFlag.org, to have first originated in 1885. BJ Cigrand, a schoolteacher, arranged for the pupils in the Fredonia, Wisc., Public School, District 6, to observe June 14, at that time the 108th anniversary of the official adoption of The Stars and Stripes, as "Flag Birthday."
Other states and localities followed suit, but the feds were a bit slower to act.
It wasn’t until 1916 that Flag Day was officially established by proclamation by President Woodrow Wilson. Then, 33 years later, President Harry Truman signed an Act of Congress into law designating June 14 of each year as National Flag Day.
Tax-free flags: In many states, the Stars and Stripes is exempted from sales tax.
A few that I know about off the top
of my head include New York, New Jersey, Wisconsin, Florida and
Maryland.
And as you are putting up your sales-tax-free U.S. flag, I recommend listening to one of my favorite American standards, George M. Cohan’s "You’re
a Grand Old Flag," here. You might want to read about the song first and get the lyrics here so you can sing — loudly — along.
George
Happy flag day !
George – http://worldonblog.com/
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