"On June 14, 1885, Bernard J. Cigrand, a 19-year-old teacher at Stony Hill School, placed a 10-inch, 38-star flag in a bottle on his desk then assigned essays on the flag and its significance," says the National Flag Day Foundation on its website.
"This observance, commemorated Congresses adoption of the Stars and Stripes as the flag of the United States on June 14, 1777. This observance was also the beginning of Cigrand's long years of fervent and devoted effort to bring about national recognition and observance of Flag Day. The crowning achievement of his life came at age 50 when President [Woodrow] Wilson, on May 30, 1916, issued a proclamation calling for a nation wide observance of Flag Day. Then in 1949, President Truman signed an Act Of Congress designating the 14th day of June every year as National Flag Day."
In Bel Air, Flag Day will be celebrated this year from 8 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 1, at Shamrock Park behind Bel Air Town Hall. The celebration is the town's yearly tradition of remembering the meaning and sacrifice represented by the American Flag.
Along with an inspiring keynote speech by Col. Gregory R. McClinton, Commander, U.S. Army Garrison, Aberdeen Proving Ground, there will be patriotic musical selections performed by Bel Air High School's band and chorus.
For more information, call 410-638-4550.