Flag Day is observed in the United States on June 14, commemorating the adoption of the first official national flag design.
On June 14, 1777, the Continental Congress passed the Flag Resolution. It called for 13 alternating red and white stripes and 13 white stars on a blue field, representing a new constellation. The resolution did not specify the stars’ exact arrangement, so early American flags appeared in several patterns.
Flag Day is not a federal public holiday, but it is recognized through presidential proclamations and local observances. Communities, schools, veterans’ groups, and civic organizations often mark the date with flag ceremonies and educational programs. The tradition became especially prominent during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
The date is sometimes confused with Independence Day, July 4. Independence Day commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776, whereas Flag Day recalls the congressional resolution establishing the first official United States flag.