Alright, let’s talk about Saturday. No, not just another summer weekend kicking off, though I hope yours is fantastic. This Saturday, June 14th, is Flag Day. And if you’re like a lot of folks, you might be thinking, “Flag Day? Is that still a thing?”
Well, let’s just say that understanding why we celebrate this seemingly quiet holiday is crucial, perhaps now more than ever. And by the way, I’m putting this out a few days early for a reason: it gives you ample time to dig out that Old Glory from the garage or attic, dust it off, and get it ready to fly proudly.
You see, Flag Day isn’t some dusty relic of a bygone era. Its origins are actually pretty straightforward, rooted in a resolution passed by the Continental Congress on June 14, 1777, formally adopting the Stars and Stripes as the official flag of the United States. Fast forward a bit, and it was a Wisconsin schoolteacher, Bernard J. Cigrand, who in 1885 really championed the idea of a national day to commemorate the flag. It gained traction, spread through schools and communities, and eventually, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed June 14th as Flag Day in 1916. Decades later, in 1949, Congress officially established it as a national observance.
But beyond the historical footnotes, why does it matter to us, right here in Southeastern Indiana, in 2025?
Because the flag, for all its simplicity – just fabric and dye – represents something far more complex and profound: the ongoing, messy, beautiful experiment of American democracy. It’s a symbol of the rights and freedoms we often take for granted, the sacrifices made to secure them, and the aspirations we still hold for a more perfect union. Think of it as America’s operating system, constantly being updated, debugged, and hopefully, improved by each generation.
In a world that feels increasingly fragmented, where disagreements often overshadow our shared values, the flag serves as a potent reminder of what unites us. It’s a banner under which we, as diverse individuals, can stand together, acknowledging our common heritage and our collective future. In an age of digital tribes and echo chambers, the flag offers a physical, tangible point of common reference, a sort of geopolitical GPS that reminds us where we are and, ideally, where we’re headed as a nation.
So this Saturday, as you’re firing up the grill or heading out to enjoy our beautiful communities across the region, take a moment. Look at the Star-Spangled Banner, whether it’s waving proudly outside a civic building, or a small one tucked into your neighbor’s yard. Reflect on what it means to you. Because in its threads are woven the stories of our past, the challenges of our present, and the enduring promise of our future. And that, my friends, is always worth celebrating.