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June 14, 2008
Flag Day
The pride, the courage and the glory
That binds us to the Stars and Stripes!
Flag Day and National Flag Week, 2008
A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America
The White House
The American flag has been our national symbol for 231 years, and it remains a beacon of freedom wherever it is flown. Since the Second Continental Congress adopted the Stars and Stripes as our flag in 1777, it has stood for freedom, justice, and the resolve of our Nation.
When Francis Scott Key saw the American flag flying over Fort McHenry in 1814, he believed that liberty would triumph. The flag that inspired Key to write our National Anthem still energizes and emboldens the American spirit today. As our Nation faces the challenges of a new era, Old Glory reminds us that liberty can prevail over oppression.
Since the first days of our Republic, Americans have flown the flag to show their pride and appreciation for the freedoms they enjoy in this great Nation. Every day, Americans pledge their allegiance to the flag of the United States, and our troops carry it before them as they defend the liberties for which it stands.
On Flag Day and during National Flag Week, we remember those in uniform whose courage and sacrifice inspire us here at home. We also remember the rich history of one of our oldest national symbols and reflect on our duty to carry our heritage of freedom into the future.
To commemorate the adoption of our flag, the Congress, by joint resolution approved August 3, 1949, as amended (63 Stat. 492), designated June 14 of each year as "Flag Day" and requested that the President issue an annual proclamation calling for its observance and for the display of the flag of the United States on all Federal Government buildings. The Congress also requested, by joint resolution approved June 9, 1966, as amended (80 Stat. 194), that the President issue annually a proclamation designating the week in which June 14 occurs as "National Flag Week" and calling upon all citizens of the United States to display the flag during that week.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim June 14, 2008, as Flag Day and the week beginning June 8, 2008, as National Flag Week. I direct the appropriate officials to display the flag on all Federal Government buildings during that week, and I urge all Americans to observe Flag Day and National Flag Week by flying the Stars and Stripes from their homes and other appropriate places. I also call upon the people of the United States to observe with pride and all due ceremony those days from Flag Day through Independence Day, also set aside by the Congress (89 Stat. 211), as a time to honor America, to celebrate our heritage in public gatherings and activities, and to publicly recite the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this sixth day of June, in the year of our Lord two thousand eight, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-second.
GEORGE W. BUSH
Red Skelton's "Pledge of Allegiance" was first introduced on the Red Skelton Show on January 14, 1969. It has since been twice read into the congressional record of The United States and has received numerous awards.
Posted by Wild Thing at June 14, 2008 03:55 AM
Comments
Fly OLD GLORY and p*ss off your liberal neighbors everyday! FREEDOM is not FREE and many take our liberty and blessings for granted. In our house, everyday is Flag Day!!!
Posted by: darthcrUSAderworldtour07 at June 14, 2008 05:44 AM
Flying it high and proud on the blog site and just waiting for sun up...
And yes, every day IS Flag Day...
God Bless America!!
Posted by: TexasFred at June 14, 2008 06:28 AM
"In our house, everyday is Flag Day!!!" - Darth
Same here, Buddy
Posted by: SSgt Steve, Republic of Texas at June 14, 2008 07:56 AM
I posted this on 5/6/08 and will bring back today.
http://boudicabpi.wordpress.com/2008/05/06/the-pledge-of-allegiance
Agree with you all.
Bob
Posted by: Bob at June 14, 2008 09:04 AM
Darth........"Fly OLD GLORY and p*ss off your liberal neighbors everyday".....AMEN!
Posted by: Wild Thing at June 14, 2008 07:52 PM
Texas Fred, thank you and God bless you.
Posted by: Wild Thing at June 14, 2008 07:54 PM
SSgt Steve, Republic of Texas , same here. We fly the Flag every day.
Posted by: Wild Thing at June 14, 2008 07:55 PM
Bob, that is GREAT. I have to go now but I will try to get over there to read it later today.
God bless you and your family.
Posted by: Wild Thing at June 14, 2008 07:56 PM
I was so surprised to see a parade on Flag day. Right here in River city. Susquehanna that is.
This is the first Flag Day parade I have seen in, well gotta to be almost 50 years. Right here, in Alabama, Pennsylvania. It seemed like the whole town turned out, all 500 of them, actually closer to 5000. Main street was lined with flags, kids with pinwheels were running everywhere, Red, White and Blue Bunting for the porches. The street was blocked off for 5 whole blocks, amidst the houses that are at least 150 years old. When I walked into the midst of this , I thought I had entered the 'Twilight Zone' and was transported back to the time when I was a kid and this was indeed a free country.
Posted by: Mark at June 14, 2008 10:17 PM
PS & FYI Patriots: After walking my pooch today, I counted 50 houses in my neighborhood / area, and guess how many Old Glory's were flying? Sadly, only 6, and by active duty U.S. military and USAFR homesteads! The base is only 8 miles away, and the runways are in view from our yards. Thanks to the poor secular 'pub lick skoole sis tem' in this state, our children aren't LEARNING about our Founding Fathers nor U.S. history anymore. We sent our kids to private schools and got our $$$ worth! The 4th of July is less than three weeks away!! Happy 232nd Birthday USA!!!
Posted by: darthcrUSAderworldtour07 at June 15, 2008 12:08 AM
Mark, oh reading about it gives me goosebumps all over!!! WOW!
How fantastic! Thank you soooo much for sharing about this.
Posted by: Wild Thing at June 15, 2008 04:04 AM
Darth, how sad, I wish all of them had the heart and soul that you have. You and your family are very special.
Posted by: Wild Thing at June 15, 2008 04:07 AM
