June 14th...This Day in History (Now with links to other events)

Congress adopts the Stars and Stripes 1777

 

During the American Revolution, the Continental Congress adopts a resolution stating that “the flag of the United States be thirteen alternate stripes red and white” and that “the Union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new Constellation.” The national flag, which became known as the “Stars and Stripes,” was based on the “Grand Union” flag, a banner carried by the Continental Army in 1776 that also consisted of 13 red and white stripes. According to legend, Philadelphia seamstress Betsy Ross designed the new canton for the Stars and Stripes, which consisted of a circle of 13 stars and a blue background, at the request of General George Washington. Historians have been unable to conclusively prove or disprove this legend.

With the entrance of new states into the United States after independence, new stripes and stars were added to represent new additions to the Union. In 1818, however, Congress enacted a law stipulating that the 13 original stripes be restored and that only stars be added to represent new states.

On June 14, 1877, the first Flag Day observance was held on the 100th anniversary of the adoption of the Stars and Stripes. As instructed by Congress, the U.S. flag was flown from all public buildings across the country. In the years after the first Flag Day, several states continued to observe the anniversary, and in 1949 Congress officially designated June 14 as Flag Day, a national day of observance.

 (More Events on This Day in History)

• American Revolution

• 1777 Continental Congress chooses national flag

• Automotive

• 2002 “The Bourne Identity,” featuring famous Mini chase scene, is released

• Civil War

• 1863 Union defeated at the Second Battle of Winchester

• Cold War

• 1954 First nationwide civil defense drill held

• Crime

• 1985 TWA flight 847 is hijacked by terrorists

• Disaster

• 1903 Flash flood devastates Oregon town

• General Interest

• 1789 Bounty mutiny survivors reach Timor
• 1951 UNIVAC computer dedicated
• 1982 Falkland Islands War ends

• Hollywood

• 2003 Queen Elizabeth makes Helen Mirren a Dame

• Literary

• 1811 Harriet Beecher Stowe is born

• Music

• 1909 Folk singer Burl Ives is born

• Old West

• 1846 California’s Bear Flag revolt begins

• Presidential

• 1922 Harding becomes first president to be heard on the radio

• Sports

• 1998 Jordan leads Bulls to sixth NBA title

• Vietnam War

• 1968 Dr. Spock convicted for aiding draft resisters
• 1969 U.S. command announces troop withdrawal

• World War I

• 1917 U.S. President Woodrow Wilson gives Flag Day address

• World War II

• 1940 Germans enter Paris