TOPEKA, Kan. — The legendary figure often associated with crafting the first U.S. national flag might find today’s Flag Day observance quite perplexing. Betsy Ross, believed by her descendants to have been personally requested by George Washington to sew the flag, lived during a time when flags primarily served as military tools, guiding soldiers amidst chaotic war conditions and designating ships. However, the current deep admiration many Americans have towards their flag was greatly influenced by the Civil War. During this period, the Union army viewed the perilous task of bearing the flag in battle as an esteemed duty, leading soldiers to undertake this mission with utmost valour.
The tradition of celebrating Flag Day started in various locales following the Civil War. It wasn’t until 1949, under the presidency of World War I veteran Harry Truman, that June 14 was officially recognized as Flag Day. In his proclamation the following year, Truman described the flag as a symbol of freedom and a defender against tyranny.
For many Americans, their flag holds a sacred status similar to that of a cherished monarch or an official state religion in other countries. “The flag serves as a tangible object that people can connect with,” noted Charles Spain, director of the Flag Research Center in Houston. Spain, who is also a retired Texas Court of Appeals justice, added, “When a flag is hoisted, the wind’s movement gives it life.”
What exactly does Flag Day commemorate? This holiday celebrates the 1777 date when the Continental Congress approved the flag’s design for what were considered rebellious colonies by Great Britain. The design was characterized by 13 alternating red and white stripes, representing the self-declared U.S. states, alongside a blue field featuring white stars, symbolizing “a new constellation” as per the 1777 Journals of Congress. However, a 1818 law modified this to include one star per state.
Before Truman’s act, national Flag Day observances had commenced much earlier, with President Woodrow Wilson issuing a related proclamation in 1916. This was several decades post the initial Flag Day celebrations held by communities. Notably, Philadelphia’s inaugural 1891 event at one of Ross’s prior homes transformed into a yearly Flag Fest.
Another claim for the first Flag Day observance comes from Waubeka, Wisconsin, a small village north of Milwaukee. The National Flag Day Foundation there recounts how Bernard Cigrand, a 19-year-old teacher, showcased a flag on his desk in 1885 and prompted his students to pen essays on its significance. Cigrand then dedicated years advocating for a national holiday while working as a dentist in Chicago.
When and why did the U.S. flag hold such deep significance for many Americans? Lisa Acker Moulder, overseeing the Betsy Ross House historical site in Philadelphia, suggested that Ross’s narrative pivots around her interaction with Washington. Prior to the Civil War, the national flag did not command the same reverence it does today. During the war, keeping flags high was pivotal for troop maneuvers, making flag bearers vulnerable targets who couldn’t retaliate, as explained by Ted Kaye, secretary of the vexillologists’ association, or flag scholars, in North America.
Propaganda from both factions depicted the act of carrying a battle flag as an honor fit for the most virtuous soldiers, cementing this belief, Kaye pointed out. A red flag from a Michigan cavalry unit, for instance, bore the inscription, “Fear Not Death — Fear Dishonor.” This notion fostered a deep-rooted culture of honor surrounding both the battle flags and, more broadly, the national flag.
Why is the Civil War pivotal in this context? Soldiers during the Civil War demonstrated unmatched bravery in battle to keep their flags flying, resulting in high casualties among flag bearers in individual conflicts, noted Matt VanAcker. VanAcker leads an enduring project at the Michigan Capitol that aims to preserve flags from the Civil War era and subsequent wars. Michigan boasts a collection of roughly 240 such historic battle flags, which have long been displayed at its Capitol rotunda.
In today’s efforts, replicas replace the originals so these venerable banners and fragments can be meticulously conserved as tangible connections to the soldiers who rallied beneath them. “Numerous flags in our collection bear bullet holes,” VanAcker noted. “Many are stained with blood — stark reminders of their battlefield history.”