Flag Day Honors U.S. History and Army Birthday

Flag Day, observed annually on June 14, commemorates the adoption of the U.S. flag by the Second Continental Congress in 1777. The day is celebrated nationwide with parades, displays, and ceremonies, with organizations such as the Elks marking the occasion with traditional rituals and educational presentations since 1911. Although Betsy Ross is popularly credited with designing the first flag, her main documented contribution was sewing standardized Navy flags at General George Washington’s request; the legend of her design surfaced decades later. The flag’s colors—red, white, and blue—were later attributed meanings of valor, purity, and justice, and proper flag etiquette has been governed by the U.S. Flag Code since 1942. Flag Day is not a federal holiday, but Pennsylvania recognizes it as a state holiday. The observance also coincides with the U.S. Army’s birthday, reinforcing national pride and the flag’s enduring symbolism.