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2 days ago
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President Trump shares birthday with Flag Day. 10 things to know about national holiday
During the Revolutionary War, the infant United States of America flew several different flags. That all changed on June 14, 1777, when Congress passed the Flag Resolution of 1777, establishing the U.S. flag with 13 alternating stripes of red and white, and a union of white stars on a blue field. While the number of stars has changed over the last 248 years, the overall design has not. But it took more than 170 years before Flag Day became a national holiday, celebrated on June 14 every year. "The flag represents a living country and is itself considered a living thing, according to the official Flag Code." 'Flag Day is an honor and tradition that displays the national flag with pride and happiness," said Anniston Army Depot Sgt. Maj. Happiness Brown on "It is an annual observance which reminds us of the dedication and sacrifices made by our military service members. It's also a time to pray for our troops, those at home and abroad." On June 14, 1777, the Continental Congress adopted a resolution on the new country's flag design. "That the flag of the United States shall be of thirteen stripes of alternate red and white, with a union of thirteen stars of white in a blue field, representing the new constellation," the resolution read. A flag of this design was first carried into battle less than three months later, on Sept. 11, 1777, in the Battle of the Brandywine, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. "In the late 1800s, schools all over the United States held Flag Day programs to contribute to the Americanization of immigrant children, and the observance caught on with individual communities," according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson issued a presidential proclamation establishing a national Flag Day on June 14, according to the Library of Congress. Both Wilson, in 1916, and President Coolidge, in 1927, issued proclamations asking for June 14 to be observed as National Flag Day. Congressional legislation designating the date as national Flag Day wasn't signed into law until 1949 by President Harry Truman. The legislation also called upon the president to issue a Flag Day proclamation every year. President Trump was born on Flag Day on June 14, 1946. "I am blessed to have shared my birthday with the Star Spangled Banner and the U.S. Army," he said. ➤ US Army's 250th anniversary a celebration that coincides with Trump's birthday. How to attend In 2017, he proclaimed not only Flag Day but Flag Week, saying, "On Flag Day, we honor the symbol that reminds us that we are one Nation under God, united in our pursuit of liberty and justice for all. "By honoring our flag, we pay due respect to the patriots and heroes who have laid down their lives in defense of the liberty it represents. "The Congress also requested, in 1966, that the President annually issue a proclamation designating the week in which June 14 occurs as 'National Flag Week' and call upon citizens of the United States to display the flag during that week." "According to legend, in 1776, George Washington commissioned Philadelphia seamstress Betsy Ross to create a flag for the new nation. "Scholars, however, credit the flag's design to Francis Hopkinson, who also designed the Great Seal and first coin of the United States. Even so, Ross most likely met Washington and certainly sewed early American flags in her family's Philadelphia upholstery shop," according to the Library of Congress. There have been 27 official versions of the flag, but the arrangement of the stars has varied according to the flag-makers' preferences until 1912. That's when President Taft standardized the then-new flag's 48 stars, according to the Library of Congress. That changed when Alaska and Hawaii became states in 1959. The current version of the flag dates to July 4, 1960. The current American flag was designed by Bob G. Heft, a high school student from Lancaster, Ohio, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac. "Even though Bob's history teacher gave him a B- for not knowing how many states the Union had, Bob submitted his design to the White House (unprompted) in anticipation of Hawaii and Alaska joining the Union. To his surprise, President Eisenhower called him! Today, it's Bob Heft's 1958 design — showing 50 stars in a field that included five rows of six stars and four rows of five stars — which is now our 50-star American flag." Heft's teacher changed his grade to an A. The Continental Congress left no record explaining why it chose red, white and blue for the country's new flag. In 1782, the Congress of the Articles of Confederation chose the colors for the Great Seal of the United States with these meanings: white for purity and innocence red for valor and hardiness blue for vigilance, perseverance, and justice The U.S. Flag Code provides guidelines on how to display and care for the U.S. flag. Flags should always hang freely but never with the stars down, except as a distress signal. The U.S. flag flies above any other flag. Never use the flag for decoration. Use bunting with the blue on top, then white, then red. It is the universal custom to display the flag only from sunrise to sunset on buildings and on stationary flagstaffs in the open. However, the flag may be displayed 24 hours a day if properly illuminated at night. When a flag becomes unfit to fly, it should be destroyed with dignity. Do not let the flag touch the ground. Do not fly flag upside down unless there is an emergency. Do not carry the flag flat, or carry things in it. Do not use the flag as clothing. Do not store the flag where it can get dirty. Do not use it as a cover. Do not fasten it or tie it back. Always allow it to fall free. Do not draw on, or otherwise mark the flag. No. The flag should be flown at full-staff, at the top of the pole on Flag Day. No, Flag Day is not a federal holiday, but the president traditionally proclaims its observance every year. The date, June 14, remains the same, no matter which day of the week it falls. Here are 2025 federal holidays: Jan. 1: New Year's Day Jan. 20: Inauguration Day; Martin Luther King Jr. Day Feb. 17: Washington's Birthday. Many state and local governments designation it as Presidents Day. May 26: Memorial Day June 19: Juneteenth July 4: Independence Day Sept. 1: Labor Day Oct. 13: Columbus Day Nov. 11: Veterans Day Nov. 27: Thanksgiving Day Dec. 25: Christmas Day Contributing: Janet Loehrke, USA Today Network This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: 10 things to know about Flag Day, President Trump's birthday
Yahoo
16-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Can homeowners association stop former NYPD officer from flying 'thin blue line' flag?
Live in a home governed by a condominium, co-op or homeowner's association? Have questions about what they can and cannot do? Ryan Poliakoff, an attorney and author based in Boca Raton, has answers. Question: I am having a problem with my HOA about the 3 feet by 5 feet thin blue stripe American flag that flies over my garage. I am a retired NYPD officer, and the blue stripe represents the officers who lost their lives in the line of duty. I have been flying that flag for about 10 years and have never been told that it is an unacceptable flag. I received an email on Friday from the HOA telling me that my flag must be removed because it is not authorized because they only allow the official flag of the United States, not larger than 4.5 feet by 6 feet, as well as the Florida, Army, POW, Marine Corps, Coast Guard or Air Force flag. Banners or any other flags are prohibited. I attached a photo of the flag that they are complaining about which is an American flag. Can you please tell me if they can make me remove that American flag and fly one only without the blue stripe? Thank you for any information you can provide. Signed, L.S. Dear L.S., The HOA Act was amended to expand the types of flags that may not be restricted by HOAs. An association may not prohibit a homeowner from displaying up to two flags, not larger than 4.5 feet by 6 feet, as follows: the US flag, the State of Florida flag, a flag representing the US Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force, or Coast Guard, a POW-MIA flag and, importantly, a 'first responder' flag. A first responder flag is a flag that recognizes law enforcement officers, firefighters, paramedics or EMS technicians, correctional officers, 911 public safety communications, nurses, persons in a statewide urban search and rescue program, and federal law enforcement officers. Such flags may incorporate the design of any other flag permitted under this law to form a combined flag. I think there's no real question that this law was intended to protect flags like yours. To describe your flag to readers, imagine a regular American flag, but remove the red line from the right of the starfield and the white and red line below, and replace them with a navy blue stripe, a royal blue stripe, and another navy blue stripe. That is a flag that incorporates the design of the American flag and modifies it to recognize law enforcement. I do not think it can be restricted by your HOA. I will mention though, for your interest, that your flag likely violates the US Flag Code. Now, that law is just advisory, and your flag is not illegal. But the Flag Code prohibits defacing an American flag, and taking a regular American flag and changing three of the stripes would violate the letter of that code. It is more common to see thin blue line flags that are black and white other than the blue stripe; and the reason for this is because when the flag colors are changed that drastically, the flag is no longer a true American flag, and so the Flag Code no longer applies at all. Again, the Code is entirely permissive, and you have a right to fly whatever type of American flag the law otherwise allows (and it is not something that would offend me, personally). I simply mention it for the interest of readers who may raise the question of whether yours or other thin blue line flags are 'legal' (they're all legal, because the Flag Code is not an enforceable law — but the black and white law enforcement flag is more common for the reasons described above). Question: When a condominium has a rule stating that owners can rent only one time in a 12-month period, is there any precedent for what happens if the tenant dies only a few months into a lease? Can the condominium tell the owner that they cannot rent again until the end of the 12-month period? That seems extremely unfair to the owner. Signed, M.M. Dear M.M., There is no guidance on this as far as I'm aware, and it's something that happens all the time in different contexts. For example, tenants can also just vacate leases early, and it would create the same situation (although perhaps with a bit less sympathy). I also see this a lot with leasing provisions that require owners to serve a leasing moratorium when they first purchase a unit — what happens if there is a tenant in that unit when it transfers? Do they have to kick the tenant out? And is that fair to the tenant who has been happily residing in the condominium, sometimes for many years? There are no answers to these issues. When I draft provisions like this, I will often incorporate language dealing with the leasing moratorium, specifically. But with respect to the situation you describe, I think that's just a case of being out of luck, and an example of restrictions like this not always being fair. Ryan Poliakoff, a partner at Poliakoff Backer, LLP, is a Board Certified specialist in condominium and planned development law. This column is dedicated to the memory of Gary Poliakoff. Ryan Poliakoff and Gary Poliakoff are co-authors of "New Neighborhoods — The Consumer's Guide to Condominium, Co-Op and HOA Living." Email your questions to condocolumn@ Please be sure to include your location. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: HOA challenges ex-NYPD cop for flying 'thin blue line' American flag
