Essential Information About the American Flag

June 14 is the American flag's official birthday and each year Americans throughout the country celebrate in Flag Day ceremonies on this day. The Stars and Stripes first flew in Flag Day festivities in 1861 in Hartford, Connecticut and the first national observance of Flag Day took place on the one hundred year anniversary of the flag -- June 14, 1877. President Woodrow Wilson first made Flag Day official in 1916, but it took Congress and President Harry Truman until 1949 to make this day a permanent observance. Although not celebrated as a Federal holiday, Americans everywhere continue to honor the flag and the ideals she represents to them on June 14th through school programs and civic observances.

With this being flag day week, and with the 4th of July just around the corner, I thought it would be a good time to take a look at this important symbol. Most of these articles are reprinted from my books The Great American Handbook and US Citizenship for Dummies. I hope you enjoy and learn some interesting new things about the American flag in the process.

• History and Symbolism of the United States Flag -- Before there was a Stars & Stripes, there was a Grand Union Flag. It took many incarnations before we got to the Stars and Stripes we know and love.
• How to Properly Display the American Flag -- Know the proper rules and etiquette of when and how to display the flag. Follow these guidelines and display your flag with dignity and pride.
• How to Properly Salute the American Flag -- The etiquette and history of the American Pledge of Allegiance.
• How to Properly Fold, Care For and Dispose of the American Flag -- Here's the info from the American flag code.