Today is a little known holiday that symbolizes what the United States of America is about.

Jefferson Elks Lodge #2306 member Bill Berger says June 14th is Flag Day, which officially became a national holiday in 1949 when the US Congress passed legislation that was signed by President Harry Truman. He tells Raccoon Valley Radio the first-ever US Flag was in 1777, with the final alternation happening in 1960 after Alaska and Hawaii became states and were added to make the 50 white stars.

Berger urges everyone to take time to celebrate the US Flag and what it represents.

“If nothing else, if you’ve got one at home, stand there and look at it and look at the history that that flag represents. It’s been around for 200 years or more, (and) hopefully another 200 (years), but it’s our history. It’s a universal signal that represents the United States.” 

Berger adds that the purpose of Flag Day is to honor our flag and to treat it with respect.