"This flag, which we honor and under which we serve, is the emblem
of our unity, our power, our thought and purpose as a nation. It
has no other character than that which we give it from generation to
generation... Though silent, it speaks to us—speaks to us of the past,
of the men and women who went before us, and of the records they wrote
upon it." —Woodrow Wilson
"I want the people of
all the earth to see in the American flag the symbol of a Government
which intends no oppression at home and no aggression abroad, which
in the spirit of a common brotherhood provides assistance in time of
distress." —Calvin Coolidge
"It was leadership here
at home that gave us strong American influence abroad, and the collapse
of imperial Communism. Great nations have responsibilities to lead,
and we should always be cautious of those who would lower our profile,
because they might just wind up lowering our flag." —Ronald Reagan
On 14 June 1777, the Marine Committee of the Continental Congress adopted a resolution, which gave birth to our National Flag. The resolution read: "Resolved that the Flag of the United States be made of 13 stripes, alternate red and white, that the union be 13 stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation."
General George Washington explained: "We take the stars from heaven, the red from our mother country, separating it by white stripes, thus showing that we have separated from her, and the white stripes shall go down to posterity representing liberty."
Today, our Flag is a beacon for liberty, a symbol of hope for all people who "hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed—that whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it..."
Our flag flies over a national government, which, at its foundation, was predicated on the premise that it be concerned with what can be done FOR its citizens, not on what can be done TO its citizens.
On this Flag Day 2006, we American Patriots display and pay homage to our National Flag.
For further information on the history of our flag, as well as proper etiquette and protocol, take advantage of The Patriot's resources on our Historic Documents page (scroll to the bottom of the page).
To purchase the highest quality, American-made U.S. flags available (and support The Patriot Annual fund), please link to The Patriot Shop.
Today is also the 231st birthday of the United States Army, born of the desire to defend liberty and spread its flame. As the U.S. Army now leads the way in "The Long War", let us not forget to pray for these brave Patriots standing in harm's way and their families awaiting their safe return.