Flag Day trivia to impress your friends
If you live in the United States, you probably know that June 14 is flag day, but what else do you know about this particular day of celebration?
Is Flag Day a federal holiday in the United States?
Flag Day is not a federal holiday. Mail is still delivered, the banks are open, and most of my working friends must show up at their places of employment as they would on any other day. That said, Pennsylvania has made Flag Day a state holiday, so extra points if you knew that extra bit of trivia.
So what do we Americans do to celebrate flag day? Each year the U.S. president delivers an address that proclaims the week of June 14 as National Flag Week, and all Americans are encouraged to fly U.S. flags during that week. Some cities also have Flag Day parades.
Who came up with Flag Day?
In 1885, a school teacher in Wisconsin, Bernard J. Cigrand, urged his students to observe June 14 as “Flag Birthday.” The next year, he wrote an essay that was published in a Chicago newspaper. It wasn’t until 1916 that President Woodrow Wilson officially proclaimed June 14 to be a national Flag Day.
Why is Flag Day celebrated on June 14?
Flag Day commemorates the day the United States agreed on the design for its first national flag. On June 14, 1777, the Continental Congress passed the first Flag Act, which read “Resolved, that the flag of the thirteen United States be thirteen stripes alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation.”
A tale of two men, a cloth, a club, and an empty apology
I could not confirm the veracity of this story I found on funtrivia.com, but I’m passing it along anyway, hoping one of you can confirm or debunk this tale.
Apparently, Theodore Roosevelt spied a man blowing his nose on what looked like the flag. He picked up a stick and thumped the man for an unpatriotic act. After a couple of thumps with the club, Roosevelt discovered it was a blue cloth with some stars sewn on it. He apologized but whacked the man once more for inciting a flurry of national pride. The incident happened on June 14.
If this incident truly happened, Roosevelt could have benefited from a couple of important lessons my parents taught me: 1) Things aren’t always as they appear; 2) When you are angry, count to 10, then use your words; and 3) Saying you’re sorry without changing your bad behavior is just an empty apology.
In closing
I thought I’d end by sharing a couple of my favorite flag pics from Hawkes Landing.
Your turn
- Have you heard that story about Theodore Roosevelt before? Do you believe it to be true?
- What life lessons have you learned that would help our leaders and citizens today?
- For my friends outside of the U.S., does your country have a day set aside to honor your national flag? How do you celebrate?
Sources:
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Flag-Day
https://www.funtrivia.com/trivia-quiz/World/Flag-Day-326670.html
https://www.usflags.com/us_flag_history
Hi, Christie – Great post! Thank you for sharing this information with us.
National Flag of Canada Day is celebrated annually on February 15th. This day commemorates the first raising of the Canadian flag on February 15, 1965.
Thank you Donna. I did not realize that Canada had a new flag design in my lifetime. Interesting.
Hi, Christie – The history of the Canadian Flag is fascinating (at least to me). 😀 You can read more about it here: https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/services/flag-canada-history.html
Thanks for sharing, Donna. I did find that history quite interesting, especially learning the significance of the maple leaf to Canada.
Hi Christie – we don’t have anything like Flag Day here in Australia…..instead we tend to bicker over whether our flag is still appropriate. The Aboriginal people have their own flag and the anti-monarchy people want to remove the Union Jack from the current flag. The arguments go around in circles and nothing changes. Nice to see you guys celebrating yours.
I did not know that, Leanne. We have a similar argument in the US about anything representing the south during the Civil War. Some people claim they simply represent our country’s history; others believe we shouldn’t be honoring anyone or anything that favored slavery. Many monuments have been removed and names of institutions changed. Our national flag seems to have widespread support.
My love language is information so this post is great. I didn’t know about why today is Flag Day so that’s going to be my fact of the day.
Have you heard that story about Theodore Roosevelt before? Do you believe it to be true? Not heard the story, might be true 🤷♀️
What life lessons have you learned that would help our leaders and citizens today? It’s not always all about you, so try to keep your mind open and your mouth shut.
Those are good lessons, Ally. I’m afraid they have been lost on too many. I like the similar advice, “You have two ears and one mouth for a reason. Listen more.”
Nice to read about Flag Day as I hadn’t heard of it before Christie and to see the pride you all have in your flag. Leanne’s comment sums up the situation in Australia quite well.
Thanks for stopping by and commenting, Deb. It’s always interesting to hear about other cultures and their challenges. I realize underneath it all, we humans truly are more alike than different.
I loved flags and their history but I don’t love what is happening in terms of the ‘current’ flag in Australia dividing our country even more.
When I was in Brownies/Girl Guides, we had to salute the flag and know about its makeup. Ours is part of our UK heritage on a blue background displaying stars of the southern cross and a federation start for our states and territories.
The First Nations People, have versions of their own flags which include the Aboriginal people and those from the Torres Straits. Our Sydney Harbour Bridge now permanently flies the Australian Flag and the Aboriginal Flag. Personally I’d like to see a combo flag…
it’s an emotive topic alright.
So good to see your post this week for Wednesday’s Words and Pics Link Up on Denyse Whelan Blogs. I look forward to you joining us next week too! Denyse.
Hello Denyse. I have found it very interesting to learn about the Australian flag’s history and the struggles you are currently facing to come to an agreement on a symbol of which you can all feel proud or perhaps a sense of ownership for. I guess the United States isn’t the only country that’s so divided currently. I’d love to see more cooperation within the US and around the world.
Christie,
I loved the story about Roosevelt. I think it’s made up, but what do I know. It makes for a good tale, though.
The youth is our future. Don’t neglect or ignore them. Teach them, discipline them, protect them, instill a sense that they matter and that those around them matter. 🙂 Mona
Hello Mona. I wondered about the veracity of that story as well, but it was interesting. I couldn’t agree more about the importance of nurturing our youth. I’m pretty proud of my grandchildren. I worry about the world we are leaving them, but they also give me hope.