June 14 National Flag Day

1. June 14 National Flag Day This brief slide show will provide a brief history of Flag Day history and description of some early American Flags displayed by Adolf Hoepfl Garage.

2. This early 20th century poster shows a man raising the American flag, with a minuteman cheering and an eagle flying above. The first official proclamation of Flag day was June 14, 1916 by President Woodrow Wilson, but Flag Day had already been observed for more than 30 years.

3. Flag Day was started by a teacher • June 14th had been chosen as the official adoption of the Stars and Stripes in 1777. • Mr. B. J. Cigrand planned the first Flag Day celebration at the Wisconsin Public School, District 6 in 1885. • In 1889, a kindergarten teacher in New York City organized Flag Day ceremonies and the idea was so popular that the State Board of Education adopted the practice for the entire state of New York.

4. The Idea of Flag Day Spreads • By the 1890s, Flag Day was celebrated in all public buildings in New York and in Pennsylvania. • Franklin Lane, Secretary of the Interior gave a Flag Day speech in 1914 in which he repeated words he said the flag had spoken to him that very morning. "I am what you make me; nothing more. I swing before your eyes as a bright gleam of color, a symbol of yourself."

5. The anniversary of the Flag Resolution of 1777 - was officially established as Flag Day by the Proclamation of President Woodrow Wilson on May 30th, 1916. While Flag Day was celebrated in various communities for years after Wilson's proclamation, it was not until August 3rd, 1949, that President Truman signed an Act of Congress designating June 14th of each year as National Flag Day.

6. WHAT WAS OUR FLAG BEFORE 1776 WHEN • WE WERE PART OF GREAT BRITAIN? • Grand Union Flag • Continental Colors • Considered to be the first national flag of the American colonies. • First named the Continental Colors; however since 1872 the flag is known as the Grand Union Flag. • Congress realized a need to symbolize the unity of the 13 colonies. • By including a miniature British flag in the design of the new Colonial Flag, the committee was indicating a wish to repair and main-tain their relationship with Great Britain. • The Navy used this flag in the first year of the American War of Independence.

7. Betsy Ross Flag • 1777 • THE FIRST FLAG OF INDEPENDENCE • According to legend, George Washington and a committee of Congress stated that they needed a flag made, however Betsy Ross had never made one before. They offered her a rough drawing the star of David to use as a pattern, however Betsy Ross thought it too difficult to design. Washington picked up a pencil and changed the stars to 5 points instead of 6. They were worried about her ability to sew a 5 point star, but with one clip of the scissors, Betsy surprised the men. • Although other flags had been made by more experienced seamstresses, Betsy Ross’ flag received the unanimous approval of Congress. The Continental Con-gress, seeking to promote national pride and unity, adopted the national flag “Resolved: that the flag of the United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation, heralding the birth of a new nation.” • George Washington informed Betsy Ross that her design was chosen and told her to turn all of her attention to making flags from then on.

8. The Bennington Flag • 1777 • 1776 represents the year the Declaration of Independence was signed. • 13 Stars represent the 13 original colonies. • The flag derives its name from being used in the battle of Bennington, Vermont in 1777. • This was the first flag to lead American armed forces (Vermont & Massachusetts Militia) on land • The battle was an important victory because it reduced British general Burgoyne's army in size by 1,000 men, caused Native American Indians to stop supporting the British, deprived the British of supplies, and led to their eventual surrender at Saratoga. The American victory also encouraged support for the independence movement, and played a role in bringing France into the war on the rebel side • This flag is also called “The Spirit of ’76.”

9. First Navy Jack • 1775 • The rattlesnake was a popular symbol in early political cartoons—rattlesnakes will only attack if provoked. They just want to be left alone. However, rattlesnakes, if provoked do not surrender in an attack, and with sharp teeth and toxic venom, they are truly dangerous animals. • The snake’s attitude represents that of the colonists and the snake’s 13 layered rattle represents the 13 stripes. • The Don’t Tread On Me motto accompanies the meaning of the snake—the colonists were ready to defend their rights and freedoms, if provoked and would not back down. • The flag was used by ships and continues to be associated with the U.S. Navy today.

10. The Culpeper Flag • Carried by the Culpeper Minutemen, part of Colonel Patrick Henry's 1st Virginia Regiment formed in 1775. • Depicts the rattlesnake symbol and motto (see First Navy Jack) • Patrick Henry's famous words "Liberty or Death" were from his speech given on March 23, 1775 to persuade the House of Burgesses to take action against the encroaching British military force. • This is one of the few American Revolution Flags that we can say with certainty was truly carried in the Revolutionary War.

11. Green Mountain Boys Flag • 1770s • The Green Mountain Boys began as a group fighting for property rights on land west of the Green Mountains (Vermont). They first fought against New Yorkers who tried to impose their laws on them. The Green Mountain Boys led to Vermont becoming an independent colony. • When they joined the American Revolution, under command of Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold (Benedict Arnold had not become a traitor yet!), they aided in the capture of Fort Ticonderoga in upstate New York. • They performed an miraculous feat of dragging cannon across the snow covered mountains of upstate New York to General Washington’s army located in Boston’s Dorchester Heights. They were able to sneak the cannon in during the British siege. Because of the cannon delivered by the Green Mountain Boys, Boston was successful in driving out the British. • Even though this is called the Green Mountain Boys Flag, historians debate whether these Vermont militia ever carried a flag.

12. Bunker Hill Flag • 1775 • This flag uses the Cross of St. Georgethat had been part of the flag of England. • There is a story that the blue field was an error made by a person coloring flag charts. It was originally red, but it was colored blue by mistake. • The pine tree was a symbol that New England used for freedom. • The design was based upon the flag used at Jamestown and Plymouth colonies. • One of many versions that are used to represent New England, there is a lot of controversy over which version, if any, was used at Bunker Hill • Although the colonists technically lost the battle of Bunker Hill, it proved to the world and especially to Britain that they could stand up and fight for themselves.

13. Thank you for watching! Be sure to see our flags on the porch outside of our building and tell your friends. As we approach this Independence Day watch for more flags to be added. And study history. It’s fun and it’s more important than ever. We will also have some contests. Stay tuned!

14. Flag Day is important not only as a National Holiday but it is also a time to reflect on who we are as a people. The Flag represents us. Who are we? And where have we been and where are we headed? There is also another connection between Flag Day and Adolf Hoepfl Garage. Kathryn’s daughter Elizabeth will be married today and it is also Kathryn’s mother’s birthday. Again, thank you for watching.