Flag Day

June 14, is Flag Day. It marks the celebration for this occasion to be commemorated wherever the Grand Old Flag flies. I'm wondering how many actually know how this event in our Flag's history began? Actually, it began longer than 59 years ago.

Back in 1885 a one-room $40.00 per month school teacher, Bernard J. Cigrand from Waubeka, Wisconsin arranged for his pupils in the Fredonia Township school to observe this day as the birthday of our national Flag. Today, he is called the "Father of Flag Day."

Every pupil in his class room was assigned the project of writing a story about the Flag. As each child came into the class room the first thing he saw was a small American Flag on the teacher's desk. He had carved a small flag pole for the flag and, the stand for the pole was an ink well.

As Mr. Cigrand watched and listened to each-pupil read his story, given in a proud and clear voice, he became convinced that other children should have the same opportunity to express their patriotism and love for their country.

He became so inspired over the success of this event that he began a campaign throughout the entire state and finally in other states for the purpose of perhaps making it a national observance.

He wrote many articles to newspapers and magazines pointing out the necessity of making our Flag a National Symbol. He soon had hundreds of promiffent persons agreeing with his idea. In 1894 a large number of Illinois citizens formed the American Flag Day Association solely for the purpose of holding Flag Day exercises in the state, and in that same year the Governor of New York State proclaimed June 14 as Flag Day. Three years later a National Flag Day Association was born in Pittsburgh, Pa. In 1907 a National Congress of Patriotic and Civic Organizations was held in Chicago, Ill. Delegates from many states as well as a number of governors attended this meeting. Here, the corner stones were laid to promote a day for the observance of Flag Day throughout our Nation. As a result, President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation in 1916 that June 14 would always be observed as Flag Day. It all began from the hopes and dreams of an obscure one room school teacher.