Kids Guide to Celebrating Flag Day

Flag day is a holiday that is celebrated in the United States on June 14th. This is a day set aside to show respect for the nations' flag. Kids look at the flag and might wonder exactly what the flag represents. Well, the American flag represents independence and the unity of the country. This is also a time for all proud Americans to show their love for their country by flying their own American flag high and proud.

Flag Day History

Flag day certainly has a very interesting history. Flag day is thought to have originated in 1885. A schoolteacher named BJ Cigrand was the first known person to plan a day to celebrate Flag Day. The date decided upon was June 14. The schoolteacher decided to start the celebration with the children at his school. News of this patriotic celebration spread across the country. Various teachers across the country decided to start celebrating Flag day on June 14th in the following years. Although Flag Day had been celebrated proudly by kids and adults for years, the holiday was not made official untill President Truman signed an Act of Congress designating that June 14th of each year would become National Flag Day.

Did you know that there is a right way and a wrong way to fly the American flag? Well, it is quite true. Kids should learn at an early age the proper way to fly the American Flag.

Interesting Flag Trivia

Place the flag out at sunrise and remove before sunset.
Raise the flag briskly in the morning, and slowly lower at sunset.
Never display the flag after sunset without a light.
Never display the flag under rain or other bad weather conditions.
The flag should never touch the ground
Carefully fold the flag and store it away with care when not in use.
Old flags should not be thrown in the trash, but burned according to tradition.

Sources
USFLAG.ORG