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This past week we celebrated a significant day in American history, Flag Day. It was first celebrated in 1885 in the Fredonia, Wisconsin public school system. They had originally called it “Flag Birthday.” They celebrated it on June 14th, because it was the 105th anniversary of the official adoption of the US Flag. The State Board of Education in New York was the first organization to recognize Flag Day as an official holiday.  On June 14, 1891, the Betsy Ross House in Philadelphia held a Flag Day celebration and then in 1892 the New York Sons of the American Revolution celebrated Flag Day.

Schools and local governments celebrated Flag Day by displaying flags and giving children flags to learn the importance of the flag. It didn’t become an official holiday until 2 centuries later when President Truman signed an Act of Congress declaring June 14th as the day Flag Day would be celebrated.

The 13 red and white alternating stripes on the American Flag stand for the 13 British colonies that declared independence from the British colonies. The first flag was adopted in 1777 and had 13 white stars on a blue background representing the 13 colonies. This flag was flown for the first time on August 3, 1777.

The current flag of the United States was ordered by President Eisenhower on August 21, 1959. The flag has been altered 27 times since 1777. The flag of the United States has documented every new state that we have added and has endured all the changes we have, even having to change the flag every time we have a new state added.

As always, it is an honor to serve you in the Missouri House. If you would like to discuss any issue, please call 573-751-3629. You can also email me at kent.hampton@house.mo.gov . I look forward to hearing from you.