Flag Day: History, Meaning, and Delaware’s Proud Connection
Flag Day, observed every June 14, honors the adoption of the Stars and Stripes as the official flag of the United States. This symbol of unity, freedom, and national identity was first authorized by the Second Continental Congress in 1777 and has been waved through wars, celebrations, protests, and presidential inaugurations ever since.
???? When Was the U.S. Flag Adopted?
On June 14, 1777, the Continental Congress passed a resolution that read:
“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.”
That resolution marked the official birth of the American flag, though the exact design—how the stars were arranged, for example—varied until standardization decades later. The original flag symbolized the 13 colonies that declared independence from Britain just one year earlier.
????️ Who Created the First American Flag?
The legend of Betsy Ross sewing the first American flag is widely taught but lightly documented. While she may have produced an early version, Francis Hopkinson, a delegate from New Jersey and signer of the Declaration of Independence, submitted a bill to Congress in 1780 for “designing the flag of the United States.” So the story of our flag, much like our early history, has more than one stitch.
???? Delaware’s Historic Role: The First Battle Flag?
Delaware doesn’t just boast being The First State—it may also be home to the first American battlefield where the Stars and Stripes flew in combat.
On September 3, 1777, during the Battle of Cooch’s Bridge near Newark, Delaware militia faced off against advancing British and Hessian troops. This brief but fierce skirmish was the only Revolutionary War battle fought on Delaware soil and is widely believed to have been the first time the new American flag was carried into battle.
This encounter happened just three months after Congress authorized the flag. While hard proof is limited, historians at the U.S. Army Center of Military History and the Delaware Public Archives consider Cooch’s Bridge a strong contender for the first true “Stars and Stripes” battle.
???? Why Do We Celebrate Flag Day?
Though the flag was adopted in 1777, it wasn’t until 1885 that the idea of a formal “Flag Day” was proposed. That credit goes to Bernard J. Cigrand, a 19-year-old schoolteacher in Wisconsin, who held the first recognized flag birthday in his classroom and spent decades promoting the idea nationwide.
President Woodrow Wilson issued the first Flag Day proclamation in 1916, and in 1949, Congress made it a national observance, though it is not a federal holiday.
???? Flag Etiquette: What to Know
Whether you fly your flag on a front porch, in a parade, or over government buildings, there’s a right way to do it:
The flag should never touch the ground.
It should be illuminated if flown at night.
When worn out, it should be retired respectfully, often by burning ceremonially. Many American Legion and VFW posts provide this service.
????️ Delaware’s Deep Flag Connection
Beyond Cooch’s Bridge, Delaware continues to play a quiet but dignified role in American symbolism:
The state seal—featured on the Delaware state flag—includes the U.S. flag within its design, acknowledging its loyalty and founding role.
George Read, a Delaware delegate, signed the Declaration of Independence and helped write the Constitution—two documents that shaped the meaning behind the flag.
???? Fast Flag Facts
There have been 27 official versions of the U.S. flag as states joined the Union.
The current 50-star design was created by a 17-year-old student, Robert G. Heft, in 1958, originally as a high school project.
Only one U.S. president, Donald J. Trump, was born on Flag Day (June 14, 1946).
???? 13 Facts About the American Flag (You May Not Have Known)
There’s a proper way to fold it ????????
The U.S. flag is traditionally folded into a triangle with 13 folds, each with a symbolic meaning related to liberty, faith, and sacrifice.There’s no official name for it ????
While we say “Stars and Stripes” or “Old Glory,” the U.S. government does not assign the flag an official nickname.The flag has flown on the Moon ????
Six American flags were placed on the Moon during the Apollo missions. Most are still standing, though heavily bleached by solar radiation.There’s a flag code, but it’s not enforceable ????
The U.S. Flag Code (Title 4 of the U.S. Code) outlines how to display and handle the flag, but violations are not legally punishable unless you’re desecrating currency.Burning the flag is protected speech ????????️
The Supreme Court ruled in Texas v. Johnson (1989) that flag burning is a form of free speech under the First Amendment.There’s a giant flag flown only in storms ????️
At Fort McHenry in Baltimore (where The Star-Spangled Banner was written), a smaller storm flag replaces the larger garrison flag during bad weather.Old Glory was a real flag ????
Sea captain William Driver coined the nickname “Old Glory,” and starting in 1831, he flew a massive 10×17-foot flag on his ship.You can request a flag flown over the Capitol ????️
Americans can order a U.S. flag flown over the Capitol in Washington, D.C. for special occasions. It comes with a certificate showing the date and purpose.There’s a correct “order of precedence” ????
When flown with other flags (state, local, organization), the U.S. flag must always appear to its right (observer’s left) and be raised first.No part of the flag should be used as apparel ????????
The Flag Code discourages using the flag on clothing, bedding, or drapery. That patriotic swimsuit? Technically unapproved.The flag never goes “out of date” ????️
The U.S. flag remains official until a new state is admitted. A new star will be added on July 4th after admission, regardless of the joining date.It must be hoisted briskly and lowered slowly ????????️
Military protocol calls for the flag to rise quickly (symbolizing readiness) and descend slowly (symbolizing respect and reflection).The biggest U.S. flag ever? ????️
The Superflag, flown over Hoover Dam in 1996, measured 255 by 505 feet and weighed 3,000 pounds.