A way to identify friend or foe. A patriotic symbol to mark where you stand. A connection that unites. A reminder of what we hold in honor.
These were just a few of the explanations I found when I looked up what our flag represents. After that journey down history lane, I see that flag in a whole new light. I think you might too.
Today is National Flag Day. A day set aside specifically in honor of the Stars and Stripes, a day we pause to see it flying gloriously in the wind, waving in freedom from the top of the pole. While there has been some debate about who the original designer was, the date of its celebration has remained steady. On June 14th, 1777, Continental Congress selected the first representation of a flag to unite our country. It was not until 1916 that President Woodrow Wilson declared June 14th as Flag Day by national proclamation.
As our country has grown, twenty-six modifications have been made over the years, the last being in 1959, when the current design was adopted. This version was selected by President Eisenhower and designed by a seventeen-year-old boy named Robert Heft.
As I studied the origins of this day, I came across the speech from President Wilson’s 1916 proclamation. It was clear his words were meant to inspire our nation to not just see a symbol, but a story for all.
“My Fellow Citizens: We meet to celebrate Flag Day because this flag which we honor and under which we serve is the emblem of our unity, our power, our thought and purpose as a nation. It has no other character than that which we give it from generation to generation. The choices are ours. It floats in majestic silence above the hosts that execute those choices, whether in peace or in war. And yet, though silent, it speaks to us. — speaks to us of the past, * of the men and women who went before us and of the records they wrote upon it.”
As I read, I understood that this day represents much more than just a flag. It represents the story of our nation and the unity that so many dreamed about and died for. It represents the story we give that symbol of freedom from generation to generation with our choices. The story of struggle to achieve united hearts. The unity that God intended. A unity we are still chasing and trying to capture every day.
The next time you see Old Glory waving in the wind, take a good look. As you do, think about more than its history. Think about its future and what that means to you. How can you shine a light on the unity that flag was meant to represent? What can you stand for that can bring connection? Tell the story of the flag today in your choices. If we could only find a way to give that silent symbol the voice of unity, respect, kindness, and honor for each other with our actions, that would be a really good day in history.
