This weekend celebrates not only the 250th anniversary of the founding of the Army with a military parade in Washington, D.C., but also the adoption of the American flag.
Here’s what to know about Flag Day and where worn or faded American flags can be retired in Summit County.
What is Flag Day?
Flag Day is the celebration of the day the Second Continental Congress approved the design of the American flag, which was June 14, 1777. While the event was first observed nationally in 1877 and celebrated by schoolteachers across the country, Flag Day wouldn’t become a holiday until the middle of the 20th century.
When is Flag Day observed?
Flag Day is Saturday, June 14.
The date for Flag Day is always on June 14, no matter which day of the week it falls on.
Is Flag Day a federal holiday?
While President Woodrow Wilson formally declared June 14 as Flag Day in May 1916, and President Harry Truman declared it a national holiday in 1949, Flag Day is not a federal holiday.
Pennsylvania does, however, recognize Flag Day as a state holiday.
History of the American flag
The current iteration of the American flag, with its 50 stars and 13 stripes, has been around since July 4, 1960, about a year after Hawaii became the 50th state in August 1959.
President George Washington first commissioned Betsy Ross to create the first flag, which featured 13 stars and stripes after the 13 original colonies. There have been 27 versions of the American flag, according to the National Flag Foundation.
The red, white and blue colors of the flag all carry meaning, with red symbolizing hardiness and valor, white symbolizing purity and innocence and blue representing vigilance, perseverance and justice.
How should the American flag be displayed?
Below are some ways the flag should be respectfully displayed, according to U.S. Code:
Where Summit County residents can retire old flags
There is a permanent flag drop-off box located outside of Resnik CLC at 65 N. Meadowcroft Drive in Akron.
Richfield Village Hall also has a flag drop box at 4410 W. Streetsboro Road. Flags can be dropped off at any time in the rear parking lot.
The U.S. Department of Defense also provides guidance on how to properly dispose of aging flags.
USA TODAY contributed to this report.
Reporter Anthony Thompson can be reached at ajthompson@gannett.com, or on Twitter @athompsonABJ
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Here’s what to know about Flag Day, including when it is and why we celebrate it
Reporting by Anthony Thompson, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
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