Flag Day, When is that again?
by Barbara Rimkunas
This "Historically Speaking" column was published in the Exeter News-Letter on Friday, June 8, 2018.
June 14th is Flag Day. “What?” you say, “Another patriotic holiday in an already busy time of year? Who made that decision?” Calm down, there’s ample history behind the date. The flag of the United States was adopted by resolution of the Second Continental Congress on June 14th, 1777 : “Resolved, That the flag of the thirteen United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation.” The resolution wasn’t too specific on how the stars were to be arranged or whether there should be six white and seven red stripes or the other way round, but there was a war on, so who had time for details? During the next century, there were a few times a Flag Day was proposed, but it didn’t become official until 1916, when President Woodrow Wilson declared it a ‘Day of Observance.’ In 1949, Congress agreed and it is now observed each year. It’s not a federal holiday – like Memorial Day or Thanksgiving – and as such has to have a presidential proclamation each year.
There are a few places in the country that go whole hog on Flag Day, like Quincy, Massachusetts, which has been holding a Flag Day parade every year since 1952. The only public event in Exeter seems to have taken place in 1916 – the year President Wilson made his declaration. The Women’s Relief Corps, which was the ladies auxiliary branch of the Grand Army of the Republic (Civil War veterans), held a Flag Day program at the Red Men’s Hall. “A special invitation is extended to veterans, sons of veterans and all patriotic orders. The public is also cordially invited.” They opened the evening with the singing of The Battle Cry of Freedom – a fighting song from the Civil War with the refrain “While we rally round the flag, boys, we rally once again! Shouting the battle cry of freedom!” This was followed by readings of patriotic poems and essays by students, a solo of The Star Spangled Banner – which was not the National Anthem yet – and a quick address by Methodist minister, John Leach. One of the readings, read by Esther London, was a recently composed poem, Your Flag and My Flag by Wilbur Nesbit, which dramatically ends:
Your flag and my flag!
And oh! How much it holds!
Your land and my land
Secure within its folds!
Your heart and my heart
Beat quicker at the sight,
Sun-kissed and wind-tossed,
The Red and Blue and White!
The one flag – the great flag -
The flag for me and you -
Glorified all else beside,
The Red and White and Blue!
Everyone then sang America the Beautiful and the observation was finished. It probably took less than an hour. The following year no mention was made of the day, even though we were in the midst of World War I. Occasionally, there will be a notice of the Flag Day proclamation, as in 1920, when the paper mentions, “June 14th, next Monday is Flag Day – Governor Bartlett has fittingly issued a proclamation urging its general observance. The flag is the symbol of our country and all that it stands for.”
It seems that Exeter’s citizens just didn’t have time for yet another holiday during such a busy time of year. Flag Day falls mid-way between Memorial Day and Independence Day. There were also three school commencements to contend with – Phillips Exeter Academy, Exeter High School and the Robinson Female Seminary. We still feel that crunch today. One bright moment, in 2002, Main Street and Lincoln Street schools, comprised of grades K – 5, created their own patriotic flags and held the dedication on June 14th as a response to the September 11th terrorist attacks. It proved to be a comforting activity to kids slightly traumatized by recent events.
You might find a flag retirement ceremony on Flag Day, and although it might seem weird to go to an event that publicly burns the flag, rest assured, this is the appropriate way to retire old and worn flags. If you own a flag, this would be a good time of year to look it over to see if it’s in good repair. If your flag is dirty, it’s okay to wash it or have it dry cleaned (I once called my mother to ask if it was okay to toss a flag in the washing machine after mine got ‘bird doo’ on it. She said it would be more disrespectful to fly it covered in ‘bird doo’ than to wash it with the towels and socks. This is why mothers exist – to clear up these dilemmas.). You don’t have to burn your flag if it accidentally touched the ground – just pick it up, make sure it’s clean and fly it again. You’re not supposed to fly the flag at night unless you have a light on it, so try to bring your flag in at night. Also, bring it in if it’s raining.
We’ve had a flag with 50 stars since 1960 – the longest period the flag hasn’t changed. Imagine yourself living in the early part of the 19th century when states were joining the Union every year or so. When James Monroe was president the flag changed five times. The good news is, you can fly any previous version of the United States flag. Minnesotans, for instance, might want to nostalgically fly the 1858 flag with 32 stars. It only lasted a year until Oregon joined and the 33 star flag was adopted, but in Minnesota I’ll bet they still love that 32 star version. New Hampshire was included in the first flag, so we don’t really get to play that game. We were the ninth state to sign the Constitution so on any flag our star is the ninth one. On the Betsy Ross flag, which was probably not designed by Betsy Ross, start at the top and our star is somewhere around 7 o’clock. In any event, flags are flying this time of year, so take some time to appreciate and care for it. Flag Day is a good day for that.
Barbara Rimkunas, who birthed a baby on Flag Day in 1991, is curator of the Exeter Historical Society. Support the Exeter Historical Society by becoming a member! Join online at: www.exeterhistory.org
Image: Exeter Historical Society volunteers, Pam Gjettum and Vicki Lukas, enthusiastically display a 45 star flag from the collections. This flag flew from 1896 – 1908 when the 46 star flag was adopted at the time Oklahoma joined the Union.
This "Historically Speaking" column was published in the Exeter News-Letter on Friday, June 8, 2018.
There are a few places in the country that go whole hog on Flag Day, like Quincy, Massachusetts, which has been holding a Flag Day parade every year since 1952. The only public event in Exeter seems to have taken place in 1916 – the year President Wilson made his declaration. The Women’s Relief Corps, which was the ladies auxiliary branch of the Grand Army of the Republic (Civil War veterans), held a Flag Day program at the Red Men’s Hall. “A special invitation is extended to veterans, sons of veterans and all patriotic orders. The public is also cordially invited.” They opened the evening with the singing of The Battle Cry of Freedom – a fighting song from the Civil War with the refrain “While we rally round the flag, boys, we rally once again! Shouting the battle cry of freedom!” This was followed by readings of patriotic poems and essays by students, a solo of The Star Spangled Banner – which was not the National Anthem yet – and a quick address by Methodist minister, John Leach. One of the readings, read by Esther London, was a recently composed poem, Your Flag and My Flag by Wilbur Nesbit, which dramatically ends:
Your flag and my flag!
And oh! How much it holds!
Your land and my land
Secure within its folds!
Your heart and my heart
Beat quicker at the sight,
Sun-kissed and wind-tossed,
The Red and Blue and White!
The one flag – the great flag -
The flag for me and you -
Glorified all else beside,
The Red and White and Blue!
Everyone then sang America the Beautiful and the observation was finished. It probably took less than an hour. The following year no mention was made of the day, even though we were in the midst of World War I. Occasionally, there will be a notice of the Flag Day proclamation, as in 1920, when the paper mentions, “June 14th, next Monday is Flag Day – Governor Bartlett has fittingly issued a proclamation urging its general observance. The flag is the symbol of our country and all that it stands for.”
It seems that Exeter’s citizens just didn’t have time for yet another holiday during such a busy time of year. Flag Day falls mid-way between Memorial Day and Independence Day. There were also three school commencements to contend with – Phillips Exeter Academy, Exeter High School and the Robinson Female Seminary. We still feel that crunch today. One bright moment, in 2002, Main Street and Lincoln Street schools, comprised of grades K – 5, created their own patriotic flags and held the dedication on June 14th as a response to the September 11th terrorist attacks. It proved to be a comforting activity to kids slightly traumatized by recent events.
You might find a flag retirement ceremony on Flag Day, and although it might seem weird to go to an event that publicly burns the flag, rest assured, this is the appropriate way to retire old and worn flags. If you own a flag, this would be a good time of year to look it over to see if it’s in good repair. If your flag is dirty, it’s okay to wash it or have it dry cleaned (I once called my mother to ask if it was okay to toss a flag in the washing machine after mine got ‘bird doo’ on it. She said it would be more disrespectful to fly it covered in ‘bird doo’ than to wash it with the towels and socks. This is why mothers exist – to clear up these dilemmas.). You don’t have to burn your flag if it accidentally touched the ground – just pick it up, make sure it’s clean and fly it again. You’re not supposed to fly the flag at night unless you have a light on it, so try to bring your flag in at night. Also, bring it in if it’s raining.
We’ve had a flag with 50 stars since 1960 – the longest period the flag hasn’t changed. Imagine yourself living in the early part of the 19th century when states were joining the Union every year or so. When James Monroe was president the flag changed five times. The good news is, you can fly any previous version of the United States flag. Minnesotans, for instance, might want to nostalgically fly the 1858 flag with 32 stars. It only lasted a year until Oregon joined and the 33 star flag was adopted, but in Minnesota I’ll bet they still love that 32 star version. New Hampshire was included in the first flag, so we don’t really get to play that game. We were the ninth state to sign the Constitution so on any flag our star is the ninth one. On the Betsy Ross flag, which was probably not designed by Betsy Ross, start at the top and our star is somewhere around 7 o’clock. In any event, flags are flying this time of year, so take some time to appreciate and care for it. Flag Day is a good day for that.
Barbara Rimkunas, who birthed a baby on Flag Day in 1991, is curator of the Exeter Historical Society. Support the Exeter Historical Society by becoming a member! Join online at: www.exeterhistory.org
Image: Exeter Historical Society volunteers, Pam Gjettum and Vicki Lukas, enthusiastically display a 45 star flag from the collections. This flag flew from 1896 – 1908 when the 46 star flag was adopted at the time Oklahoma joined the Union.
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