In the United States, Flag Day is celebrated on June 14. It commemorates the adoption of the flag of the United States on June 14, 1777, by resolution of the Second Continental Congress.

"We take the stars from heaven, the red from our mother country, separating it by white stripes, thus showing that we have separated from her, and the white stripes shall go down to posterity, representing our liberty."

140th U.S. Flag Day poster,1777-1917. Library of Congress description: "Poster showing a man raising the American flag, with a minuteman cheering and an eagle flying above."

You're a grand old flag
You're a high-flying flag
And forever in peace may you wave
You're the emblem of
The land I love
The home of the free and the brave
Ev'ry heart beats true
Under red, white and blue
Where there's never a boast or brag
But should old acquaintance be forgot
Keep your eye on the grand old flag

George M. Cohan

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America's earliest flags did not have stars and stripes. Congress didn't adopt the flag with 13 stars and 13 stripes as the official U.S. flag until 1777. A flag used in 1775, for example, did have stripes, but it displayed the British Union Jack crosses in the canton, the top left corner of the flag that's also known as the union. The primary use of a national flag at that time was for naval ships to be able to recognize each other. I have to believe that it is no coincidence that the British flag is where the red, white and blue idea came from.

The American flag represents the life of a soldier who has given military service. To many, it is an honor to hold, fold and see it every day, including Flag Day. ... For people who serve in military honor guards, the flag is the symbol of a living soul. Back at the Vietnam Wall, where it doesn't need to be Flag Day to honor the flag.

I've come to learn firsthand the flag represents freedom, and that freedom isn't free. It's paid for every day by our military and law enforcement agents and all too often they pay the ultimate price.

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All I have are my words, armed in my mind, written in pen, stand by stand. Oh, yes. Still by hand. It has a different feel. Altered not by keys, backspace, and delete, I write, erase, tear it to pieces and start all over again. And again.

It’s my way. I walk out to the deep end of the page and dive right in.

As always, there must be flowers to color my world. #alwaysaflower Thank you so much for reading my post as I exress my love for my flag and country. Even in times like this, we must lean in together and make it all work. And just like that, this post is over. Come back tomorrow and we will do it again. Happy Flag Day!