June 14 is Flag Day in the United States. Like all patriotic Americans, I recognize the importance of this “forgotten holiday.” In honor of Old Glory, I’ve assembled a small collection of Flag Day quotes and sayings.
Flag Day is a day to show appreciation for our flag and those who shaped our nation. Will you join me in celebrating the Stars and Stripes – and, in turn, every American who has defended it?
Let’s get started.
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The History of Flag Day
Americans have celebrated Flag Day for more than a century. The first celebration took place in 1877, on the 100th anniversary of the Flag Resolution.
On June 14, 1777, the Second Continental Congress adopted the flag of the United States. The Flag Resolution described our national flag this way:
“Resolved: that the flag of the United States be made of thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new Constellation.”
The first recognition of an annual Flag Day likely dates to 1885 and the actions of Bernard J. Cigrand. The Wisconsin school teacher led his students in a birthday celebration for the flag. Then, they repeated the event the following year.
Known as the “Father of Flag Day,” Cigrand was a strong advocate for an annual Flag Day observance. In time, several state governments adopted such an observance.
President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed a countrywide Flag Day in 1916. But it wasn’t until August 3, 1949, that Congress designated June 14 as National Flag Day.
The Forgotten Holiday?
Unlike other patriotic holidays, Flag Day is not a federal holiday. Some states observe it as a state holiday. But it’s at the president’s discretion to proclaim a national observance each year.
Flag Day is sometimes called the “forgotten holiday.” That’s because it often gets lost between Memorial Day and Juneteenth. Still, it’s a National Day worthy of celebration.
Americans celebrate Flag Day with flag ceremonies, parades, picnics, and essay contests. Veterans groups, schools, and the National Flag Day Foundation often sponsor these events.
They aim to preserve the history, traditions, and respect that Old Glory deserves. To help YOU honor the Stars and Stripes, here are 14 Flag Day quotes and sayings.
Flag Day Quotes and Sayings
Hurray for the Red, White, and Blue! The stripes represent the original 13 colonies, while the stars represent the 50 states. According to PBS, the colors of the flag are symbolic, too:
- Red symbolizes hardiness and valor,
- White symbolizes purity and innocence,
- Blue represents vigilance, perseverance and justice.
Please take a moment to read these Flag Day quotes and sayings. Then consider the meaning the American flag holds for you.
1. Inspiration for a Nation
Quote: “The whole inspiration of our life as a nation flows out from the waving folds of this banner.”
Author: Anonymous
Share: #FlagDay
2. Separation and Liberty
Quote: “We take the stars from heaven, the red from our mother country, separating it by white stripes, thus show-ing that we have separated from her, and the white stripes shall go down to posterity, representing our liberty.”
Author: George Washington, 1st United States President
Source: Unknown
3. Liberty, Liberty, Liberty
Quote: “Our flag means all that our fathers meant in the Revolutionary War. It means all that the Declaration of Independence meant…. Every color means liberty, Every thread means liberty. Every star and stripe means liberty.
Author: Henry Ward Beecher, American minister
Source: Americanization
4. Freedom’s Shield and Hope
Quote: “The emblem of the brave and true, Its folds protect no tyrant crew, The red and white and starry blue, Is freedom’s shield and hope.”
Author: John Philip Sousa, American composer
Source: “Stars and Stripes Forever”
5. Emblem of the Land I Love
Quote: “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.”
Author: George M. Cohan, American composer and entertainer
Source: “You’re a Grand Old Flag”
6. Freedom, Equality, Justice, and Hope
Quote: “When we honor our flag, we honor what we stand for as a Nation – freedom, equality, justice, and hope.”
Author: Ronald Reagan, 40th United States President
Source: Proclamation 4846
7. Unity, Power, Thought, and Purpose
Quote: “This flag which we honor and under which we serve is the emblem of our unity, our power, our thought and purpose as a nation.”
Author: Woodrow Wilson, 28th United States President
Source: 1917 Flag Day Address
8. Symbol of Yourself
Quote: “I am what you make me; nothing more. I swing before your eyes as a bright gleam of color, a symbol of yourself.”
Author: Franklin Knight Lane, 26th Secretary of the Interior
Source: “Makers of the Flag”
9. History and Tradition
Quote: “It is the flag just as much of the man who was naturalized yesterday as of the men whose people have been here many generations.”
Author: Henry Cabot Lodge, American statesman
Source: “What Our Flag Means“
10. Everything We Hold Dear
Quote: “We identify the flag with almost everything we hold dear on earth. It represents our peace and security, our civil and political liberty, our freedom of religious worship, our family, our friends, our home.”
Author: Calvin Coolidge, 30th United States President
Source: 1931 Flag Day Address
11. Symbol of National Unity
Quote: “Our flag is not just one of many political points of view. Rather, the flag is a symbol of our national unity.”
Author: Adrian Cronauer, American radio personality
Source: Unknown
12. History of Our Nation
Quote: “I believe our flag is more than just cloth and ink. It is a universally recognized symbol that stands for liberty, and freedom. It is the history of our nation, and it’s marked by the blood of those who died defending it.”
Author: John Thune, American senator
Source: Introduction, Flag Protection Amendment
13. Star-Spangled Banner
Quote: “O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave, O’er the land of the free, And the home of the brave?”
Author: Francis Scott Key, American lawyer and poet
Source: “The Star-Spangled Banner”
14. What Better Flag?
Quote: “Sure I wave the American flag. Do you know a better flag to wave?”
Author: John Wayne, American actor
Source: John Wayne: Made in America
Wrapping It Up
On June 14, unfurl Old Glory. Hang the flag in front of your home, business, or elsewhere. Place it on the grave of a military friend or family member to show honor to our soldiers, flag, and country.
Attend a Flag Day parade or picnic with your family. Visit a war memorial or history museum. And share the patriotic quotes above with your social media networks.
This Flag Day, take a moment to pay your respect to our beautiful symbol of freedom and liberty. And for more on the American flag, read this free edition of Our Flag.
God bless America! ◻️
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Now It’s Your Turn
Thank you for reading my post. Now it’s YOUR turn to chime in. What are your favorite Flag Day quotes and sayings? How will you celebrate Old Glory this year?
Let’s fill the comments with friendly conversation. Scroll down to leave a reply, ask a question, or just say hello. And if you liked this post, please give it a share.
Blessings, Annette
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Photo Sources
- Gmcoop / Getty Images Signature, Maria Sbytova | Canva | License
- Jill Wellington | Pixabay | License
- Wikimedia Commons | Public Domain
