As our Nation’s “Flag Day” approaches I would like to say a few words about our great flag.

On June 14th, 1777, the Second Continental Congress adopted our nation’s flag. In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation that officially established June 14th as “Flag Day.” In August of 1949, “National Flag Day” was established by an Act of Congress, but the day would not be an official federal holiday.

Our nation’s flag currently has 13 red and white stripes and a blue rectangle in the canton, which is also called the “Union”, bearing 50 five-pointed stars. This version of our flag is its 27th design since 1777.

The 50 stars on the flag represent the 50 states of the United States of America, and the 13 stripes represent the 13 colonies that declared independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain. In April 1818, Congress passed that, with each new state that was added to the Republic, the flag would have a new star, but the number of stripes would be reduced to 13 from 20 so as to honor the original colonies. Before this, each new state would obtain a star and a stripe on our flag.

It is said that our flag’s colors were obtained from Great Britain’s flag, but others believe the colors were to represent the following; purity and innocence for the white, hardiness and valor for the red, and vigilance, perseverance and justice for the blue.

A gold trim is generally used on ceremonial indoor flags and is believed to have been first by our military. Fringes are also for indoor flags and are considered an “honorable enrichment only.” In 1895 the US Army was officially allowed to use fringes on our flag.

On June 14th, 2017, the United States Army will also be celebrating its 242nd birthday. It is believed the United States Army also has the honor of hoisting our great flag first in June 1777 at the Middlebrook Encampment in New Jersey.

This is only a small amount of our great flag’s history. I would encourage all on June 14th to stop and pause and think about our flag and what it means to each of us and others.

Again, Happy 242nd Birthday United States Army!

Kelly Hopkins is Past Post Commander, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6710.