Flag Day Worksheets

Printable Flag Day Worksheets

Flag Day is celebrated throughout the world to commemorate a nationa or historical event. In the United States we celebrate Flag Day on June 14th. This day dates back to 1777 when the flag was adopted by the United States. You will find a number of great worksheets below.

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What is Flag Day?

On June 14, 1777, the United States passed the Flag Resolution. In that resolution, it was stated that the flag of the United States would have thirteen alternate red and white stripes. The Union would be represented by the thirteen stars, white in a blue field, and this would come to represent a new Constellation.

The continental Congress introduced the American Flag during one of the most critical moments in American history: in the middle of the Revolutionary War. The Declaration of Independence made this resolution of utmost importance. Prior to Independence, every colony in America had its own flag. But the American flag was meant to represent the newfound union between the original thirteen states.

Origins of The Flag

There is not sufficient information on the origin of the American flag. Some historians believe that a congressman from New Jersey, by the name Francis Hopkinson, designed the flag, whereas a seamstress Betsy Ross from Philadelphia, stitched it. There is, however, no historical evidence that Betsy Ross contributed to the creation of Old Glory.

The flag is also commonly called by its nickname, Old Glory. William Driver, a sea captain, called his American flag that name. According to Driver, the flag has survived multiple times during the Civil War. The flag's shape, design, and arrangement have undergone various changes due to the several acts Congress passed between 1777 and 1960.

In the original designs of the flag, the stars were arranged in a circle to represent the idea that all colonies of America were equal. The thirteen stripes represented the struggle for independence.

Today, the flag has 13 horizontal stripes, with alternate seven red and six white stripes. These stripes represent the original 13 colonies in the United States, whereas the stars on the flag represent the 50 states of the Union.

The colors of the flag are symbolic as well. The red color represents hardiness and valor, the white symbolizes purity and innocence, and the blue, represents vigilance, justice, and perseverance.

Celebrating the Flag

The idea that America should set one day to honor and celebrate the national flag actually came from several sources. It was to acknowledge the power and importance of when the American flag was designed. One source claims a school teacher named Bernard J. Cigrand from Wisconsin, originated the idea of a national celebration. Cigrand encouraged his students to celebrate June 14 as the flag's birthday. Bernard also later wrote an essay that was published in a Chicago newspaper, advising Americans to proclaim this date as the date to celebrate the flag of America.

A few years later, William T Kerr from Pennsylvania founded the American Flag Day Association of Western Pennsylvania.

The Official Day

It was in 1916 that President Woodrow Wilson issued a statement that officially declared June 14 as the date. But it was on August 3, 1949, when President Harry Truman signed official legislation which designated June 14th as National Flag Day. It is, however, not a public holiday in most states of America. Only Pennsylvania celebrates this date as a holiday.

The American Flag in Field

The flag of any country is monumental. It represents the country and its values, especially to other countries and in situations like a war. September 11, 1777, was the first time the flag with the original design was carried into the battlefield, specifically the Battle of the Brandywine.

The flag also first flew over a foreign territory at the start of 1778 in the Bahamas, where the Americans successfully captured a British fort. The history of the United States flag is fascinating. It has inspired songs and even evolved side by side with the country it represents.

How Do People Celebrate?

During National Flag Week, when the holiday is celebrated, Americans reflect on the foundations of America. They reflect on the freedom that the flag of the United States represents. On this day, Americans commemorate their patriotic spirit, and remember the loyalty and sacrifice of their forefathers to the nation.

People honor this day in several ways, but displaying the American flag proudly at homes, schools, offices and public buildings is common. Schools and other institutes also observe the flag hoisting ceremonies. In schools, teachers carry out their teaching activities centered around the flag day, such as quizzes on the history of the American flag, and recreating the original flag in arts and crafts.

Communities also celebrate Flag Day through parades, picnics, and ceremonies.

The period of honoring America is not limited to this holiday, as it is followed by Honor America Days; this is a 21-day period leading up to Independence Day.

Where Is The American Flag Flown 24 Hours a Day?

Normally, the flag can be flown anywhere during the day, but there are some places where flying the flag throughout the day and night is allowed.

Here are the 5 places where the American flag proudly flies in the air:

1. The White House
2. The U.S. Capitol
3. The Betsy Ross House in Philadelphia
4. The Revolutionary War Battleground in Lexington
5. All custom points of entry in the U.S.

On Flag Day, the Americans commemorate the patriotic spirit that the flag represents. The American Flag is not just a regular cloth. It is a symbol of the independence of the nation and the freedom we had to fight long and hard for. Celebrating the holiday allows Americans to pay respect to the history of America and what their ancestors had to do in order to be the land of the free that it is today.