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The Original "Flag Day" Flag
In 1885, in the small town of Waubeka, Wisconsin, the first formal observance of Flag Day was organized by Bernard J. Cigrand. Commemorating the adoption of the American flag by the Continental Congress on June 14, 1777, the holiday soon spread around the nation. Cigrand traveled the country for many years, giving speeches on the importance of patriotism and respect for the flag, until in 1916, Woodrow Wilson officially proclaimed the holiday be celebrated nationwide every June 14th.
This flag was presented to Cigrand by President Wilson in 1916 as a token of appreciation for his many years of effort toward the holiday's creation. It was donated to the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library and Museum in Staunton, VA by Cigrand's granddaughter, Dorothy Cigrand Trayer, in 1980. |