Flag Day is celebrated on June 14 because it was on that day that our flag, also known as “Stars and Stripes” or “Old Glory” was adopted by resolution of the Second Continental Congress in 1777. In 1818, after 5 more states joined the Union, Congress passed legislation fixing the number of stripes at 13 and requiring that the number of stars equal the number of states.
The flag means different things to each of us. For many, it is a powerful symbol. I remember learning the words to the Star Spangled Banner and imagining what it must have been like to wonder about the outcome of the battle. Consider these words:
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
These words ask a question. At this point, there is uncertainty as to who had won the battle. In this day of instant messaging and cell phones that may be hard to fathom, but surely one can sense the urgency that is posed.
The Kiwanis Club of Ashland has taken responsibility for placing the American Flags around our city on national holidays for over forty years. The Ashland Kiwanis, are a branch of Kiwanis International, whose motto is “Serving the Children of the World.” Most of their activities and service projects are centered around the youth of our community.
This year, the Chair of the Flag Committee is Russ Chadick and I brought him an Apple Almond Pie tonight to recognize him for his service. Russ shared his love of the flag with me and said that his section of the city was down Siskiyou Boulevard. I asked him when the flags were taken down and he said that since some of the Kiwanis had other commitments tonight, they would take their flags down around 4:30PM. Since Russ didn’t have another commitment tonight he will leave his section up until 6PM – that way the flags can be displayed longer. He thinks they make a beautiful sight – and I have to agree with him.
Pie a Day Give Away 
Leave a Reply