William Penn Life, 1999 (34. évfolyam, 2-12. szám)
1999-05-01 / 5. szám
Flag Day T his year marks the 50th anniversary of the Act of Congress proclaiming June 14 as National Flag Day. Citizens across this country will pause to recite the Pledge of Allegiance to our Flag on this day, including WPA members, who are among the 9.3 million Americans affiliated with the National Fraternal Congress of America. Flag Day honors the adoption of the Stars and Stripes as our national flag by the Continental Congress 222 years ago. A national Flag Day was the dream of Bernard J. Cigrand, a 19-year-old school teacher in Fredonia, Wise. In 1885, in a windswept school atop a glacier-formed hill overlooking rolling farmland, Cigrand celebrated the first Flag Day by placing a small flag in a bottle on his desk. Cigrand taught his students about the history of the flag and recited a ceremonial pledge. His efforts over the next 31 years led to a national observance honoring the flag. You may ask: "Why should I observe this day?" Quite simply, our flag is more than a patchwork of cloth. It is the silent sentinel of our freedom. It is a constant reminder of the courage required to maintain our freedom, the liberty we enjoy in being self-governed, and the loyalty and trust which unites us despite our individual differences. On this National Flag Day, we encourage you to talk to your children, grandchildren or friends about what the flag means to you. Because others have given their fortunes and their very lives to secure our freedom, we have the freedom NOT to participate in this national observance. However, it is good to pause to honor our nation's flag, for this act helps remind each of us that we are most blessed to be one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. And that is something worth celebrating, [\ypij How you can participate • Join in the Pause for the Pledge. At 7:00 pm on Flag Day, in communities all across the nation, Americans from all walks of life will gather together to recite the Pledge of Allegiance. Check your local newspaper for the location of the event nearest you. • If your community is not hosting a Pause for the Pledge, organize one. Contact local officials and get them involved. Be sure to alert all local media. • Donate flags to nursing homes, veterans' organizations, schools, public buildings, etc., and hold a special presentation ceremony on June 14. • Ask local radio stations to air public service announcements about Flag Day. • Sponsor or promote an "Avenue of Flags" event. Invite local merchants and residents to display the flag.. Provide flags, if possible. • Talk to officials at a preschool or primary school and residents at a seniors club. The idea: have the seniors talk to the students about those times when they have been most proud to be citizens of the United States and what the Flag means to them. Arrange transportation for the seniors. 10 Wiliam Penn Life, May 1999
