Flag Day! and the History of Old Glory!

Old glory will soon celebrate its 234th birthday! It was on June 14, 1777, that Congress passed an act that established a flag to represent our nation. This flag initially had 13 stripes alternating the colors of red and white (seven red alternating 6 white) and 13 white stars against a blue background. Both the stars and stripes represented the thirteen original colonies. 
 

The colors of the flag are symbolic as well: Red symbolizes Hardiness and Valor, White symbolizes Purity and Innocence and Blue represents Vigilance, Perseverance and Justice. 

We have always known July 4th as the day that we celebrate the birth of our nation; and on August 3, 1949 President Harry Truman started the day where we were to celebrate the birth of our Flag, June 14!

In May of 1776, Betsy Ross reported that she sewed the first American flag. But it has changed much since its birth. Though it still has the 13 red and white stripes representing the original colonies, but now 50 white stars to represent our states. So on June14th appreciate the flag, the symbol that represents our nation, and the 234 years that it has done so.

But this flag day, come visit the Air Force Memorial in our annual Flag Day ceremony. AFA and the Air Force Memorial Foundation will host a noon Flag Day ceremony Tuesday, June 14, 2011. This ceremony, which is open to the public, provides an opportunity for all Americans to pause and pay respect to our Nation’s great symbol, Old Glory! Directions can be found online at www.airforcememorial.org.