06/14/2026
Raise It High: Honoring Flag Day and What Our Flag Represents
Every year on June 14th, Americans pause to recognize Flag Day, a tribute to one of our most enduring national symbols—the American flag. While it may seem like just a piece of cloth to some, to millions, it represents freedom, unity, sacrifice, and hope.
A Brief History of Flag Day
Flag Day marks the anniversary of the adoption of the Stars and Stripes as the official flag of the United States by the Continental Congress on June 14, 1777. Though the holiday gained popularity in the late 1800s, it was President Woodrow Wilson who issued the first official Flag Day proclamation in 1916. It wasn’t until 1949 that Congress officially established June 14th as National Flag Day.
Why the Flag Matters
The American flag is more than a design—each stripe, star, and color carries meaning:
13 stripes represent the original colonies.
50 stars stand for the current states.
Red symbolizes valor and bravery.
White stands for purity and innocence.
Blue represents vigilance, perseverance, and justice.
For veterans, military families, and patriotic Americans, the flag often carries deeply personal significance. It’s a symbol draped over caskets at military funerals, raised at naturalization ceremonies, and saluted during national anthems. It reminds us of the cost of freedom—and the unity that binds us.
How to Show Respect for the Flag
There are many simple but meaningful ways to show respect for the flag:
Fly the flag on June 14th and on all national holidays.
Display it properly—always with the union (stars) up, and never let it touch the ground.
Illuminate it if flown at night.
Retire it with dignity—when worn or tattered, the flag should be disposed of respectfully, often by burning ceremonially. (HAV is creating a program to help with this.)
Raise it high on June 14th—because the flag still stands for freedom.
Every year on June 14th, Americans pause to recognize Flag Day, a tribute to one of our most enduring national symbols—the American flag. While it may seem like just a piece of cloth to some, to millions, it represents freedom, unity, sacrifice, and hope.
