Today is Flag Day in the United States. One hundred years ago today President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed this day, June 14th Flag Day, the same date that The Continental Congress picked the original stars and stripes design for our flag during the American Revolution. Wilson wanted to build a sense of national identity.
No symbol is more important to Americans than the United States Flag. We usually fly the flag of our nation on the front porch. This year we purchased another to fly in our back yard as well. We fly our flag as a symbol of democracy and our freedom.
There are a number of emotional reasons that one may fly the symbol of our nation. Many people who never flew the flag, bought one and have flown it since 9/11. Many fly the flag simply out of pride for our country. Of course there are many that fly the flag for the servicemen and women that have fought for our country. Many folks did not display the flag in their personal space in the early nineteenth century. The flag was only flown on ships and federal buildings.
My country tis of thee,
Sweet land of liberty,
Of thee I sing.
Land where my fathers died!
Land of the Pilgrim's pride!
From every mountain side,
Let freedom ring!
My native country, thee,
Land of the noble free,
Thy name I love.
I love thy rocks and rills,
Thy woods and templed hills;
My heart with rapture fills
Like that above.
Let music swell the breeze,
And ring from all the trees
Sweet freedom's song.
Let mortal tongues awake;
Let all that breathe partake;
Let rocks their silence break,
The sound prolong.
Our father's God to, Thee,
Author of liberty,
To Thee we sing.
Long may our land be bright
With freedom's holy light;
Protect us by Thy might,
Great God, our King!
Samuel Francis Smith
If you live in the United States, do you fly the flag? If you do and want to share your reasons I would love to hear them. If you live in another country, do you fly the flag of your nation?
