LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Most people know a lot about Independence Day, but what about the other patriotic holiday in the summer?
Flag Day.
According to Flag and Banner Marketing Assistant Gary McCoy, the holiday commemorates the adoption of the United States flag on June 14, 1777, and is one of the year's biggest days.
"I am in the flag business, so it's Christmas," McCoy said.
Flag Day is celebrated on June 14 every year. McCoy explained that the United States flag was adopted nearly 250 years ago.
"That was the day that the Continental Congress actually officially designated the flag," McCoy said.
That was in 1777, but Congress didn’t officially make Flag Day a holiday until 1949, mainly due to the work of Bernard Cigrand, also known as the "Father of the Flag Day."
Cigrand, a Wisconsin native, claimed to have given over 2,000 speeches around the country supporting the flag and dedicated a holiday to it.
"He spent his whole life advocating for a day to commemorate the flag,” McCoy said. “He eventually got Congress to create the national holiday Flag Day."
Regarding how to celebrate Flag Day in 2024, McCoy said it’s simple–fly the flag high and proud.
"Flag Day is a day to put up your US flag on your pole and fly it all day,” McCoy said. “Put up an extra one even."
If you don’t have a flag to fly, Flag and Banner in downtown Little Rock hands out free miniature ones on June 14-15.
Of course, they also sell full-size ones year-round.
According to McCoy, June 14 is also an excellent day to reflect on the flag, our country and what they mean to you.
"For me, Flag Day is a day that I get to pause and reflect on what it means to be an American," McCoy said. "All of the symbolism that comes with that."
Last week, President Joe Biden issued an official proclamation marking June 14 as Flag Day and the week it falls in as National Flag Week.