From retirement ceremonies to community celebrations, American Legion Family members are coordinating events to honor Old Glory.
In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation that officially established June 14 as Flag Day to commemorate the adoption of the U.S. flag on June 14, 1777. Three decades later, in 1949, congressional legislation designating that date as the national Flag Day was signed into law by President Harry Truman in 1949; the legislation also called upon the president to issue a Flag Day proclamation every year.
For more than 100 years, Flag Day has seen Americans commemorate the adoption of the Stars and Stripes in many ways, including many American Legion posts holding flag retirement ceremonies or hosting community celebrations to commemorate the date.
Flag Day also is when Americans everywhere will stop what they are doing and stand together for the annual Pause for the Pledge, reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. Pause for the Pledge takes place at 7 p.m. ET.
If your post is hosting a Flag Day event, please share in the Rally Around the Flag category on legiontown.org with photos.
The following are a few examples of Flag Day events planned by American Legion Family members.
California
In Fontana, American Legion Post 262 is inviting the community to its celebration of Flag Day and the U.S. Army’s 251st birthday. The post is teaming up with the San Bernardino Valley Young Marines for an event that will include a celebration of the Army’s birthday, as well as a flag retirement ceremony. The post has asked those in the community to bring in unserviceable flags for their proper retirement.
Georgia
In Canton, Thomas M. Brady Post 45 will host a flag retirement ceremony on Flag Day that is open to the public. The ceremony will be followed by an ice cream social.
Indiana
In Martinsville, American Legion Post 230 is conducting a flag retirement ceremony at the Morgan County Fairgrounds. The public is then invited to attend the post’s family-friendly event featuring a bounce house, cookout, live music, a poker tournament and other activities.
Iowa
· In Vinton, George G Luckey Post 57 invites the public to its flag retirement ceremony that is being combined with the post’s first Summer Festival. The free event will include food and drinks; games, activities and competitions for children that include a water cannon contest, a ring toss and toy giveaway; a flag etiquette and folding demonstration; and the flag retirement ceremony.
· In Gladbrook, American Legion Auxiliary Unit 127 and its Junior members are hosting a Flag Day service on June 15 for the public. During the service, the Juniors will present a new flag to the post.
Louisiana
In Bossier City, Doty-Sumner Post 191is conducting a flag retirement ceremony on June 12. The post is accepting flags from the community to properly retire.
Maine
In Gray, American Legion Post 86 will conduct its annual flag retirement ceremony on Flag Day. Post 86 Honor Guards will present the colors, while Cub Scouts Pack 86 will assist with the retirement ceremony.
Maryland
In Frostburg, Farrady Post 24 is inviting the community to a Flag Day picnic at Hoffman Park that also will celebrate the nation’s 250th birthday. The event is free to veterans and will include hot dogs, hamburgers, sausages and more.
Massachusetts
In Westford, Nabnasset Post 437 is hosting a flag retirement ceremony that will include participation from local firefighters, Scouts and members of the community. The post has been collecting flags from the community to retire.
Following the ceremony, the post invites attendees to a meal that includes hamburgers and hot dogs.
Michigan
· In Farwell, American Legion Post 588 is hosting a public Flag Day celebration that will include a flag escort from American Legion Riders Chapter 588, music and a flag folding demonstration. A hot dog cookout will be provided by Chapter 588 following the event.
· In Edwardsburg, American Legion Post 365’s Flag Day event will include a flag retirement ceremony, the presentation of the post’s student scholarships and the installation of officers.
Missouri
· In St. Robert, American Legion Post 331 is using Flag Day to fundraise for one of its own. The 5-year-old child of a Post 331 Legionnaire is hospitalized in St. Louis and requires a parent there 24 hours a day, reducing the family’s income. The post is accepting donations through June 14 that will assist with lodging expenses, food and meals, fuel and transportation costs, utility bills and other essential living expenses.
· In Unionville, American Legion Post 34 will host several activities on Flag Day, including an open house, a flag retirement ceremony, and displays honoring veterans and American history. Members of the public are encouraged to bring worn, torn, or faded American flags to the post home for proper disposal. The open house also will feature representatives from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ mobile Vet Center, while a veteran service officer will be available to assist individuals with VA paperwork and answer questions regarding benefits and services. And the Daughters of the American Revolution will present a display recognizing the 250th birthday of the United States, while American Legion Auxiliary Unit 34 will sponsor a poppy display.
· In Fayette, Howard County American Legion Post 273 has been receiving used flags from the public for its flag retirement on Flag Day.
New Jersey
In South Amboy, Luke A. Lovely Post 62 has asked the public to submit its unserviceable flags for its retirement ceremony on Flag Day at The Portuguese Fisherman’s parking lot.
New York
· In Waddington, American Legion Post 420 has been collecting unserviceable flags from the public for its flag retirement ceremony. Following the ceremony, the post will host a luncheon.
· In Warwick, Nicholas P. Lesando Jr. American Legion Post 214 is inviting the community to attend its flag retirement ceremony at the post. Veterans from World War II all the way to more recent conflicts will participate in the event.
· In Cazenovia, American Legion Post 88 and members of Scouting America Troop 18 are inviting the community to attend their flag retirement ceremony that also will serve as a celebration of the nation’s 250th birthday.
Ohio
In Lodi, American Legion Post 523 is asking for the public to bring unserviceable flags to the post on Flag Day to exchange for free new flags. The public’s old flags will be retired ceremonially.
Oklahoma
In Chandler, American Legion Post 64 is teaming with Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1719 to host a flag retirement ceremony at Tilgham Park on Flag Day. The posts have been requesting the public drop off unserviceable flags at the Lincoln County Courthouse or the Manvel Avenue Coffee Company.
Oregon
In Nyssa, American Legion Post 79 in Nyssa will be doing a special flag commemoration that will include a flag raising ceremony at the Nyssa Fire Department, as well as a flag retirement ceremony at the post afterward. The post has been asking the public to bring in worn flags for proper disposal.
South Carolina
In Bluffton, American Legion Post 205 is collecting unserviceable flags for its June 12 flag retirement ceremony.
Wisconsin
In Appleton, the 75th annual Appleton Flag Day Parade – themed "Stars, Stripes, and New Beginnings” – will take place on June 13. It’s the oldest and largest Flag Day parade in the nation, with 100 units that include local marching bands, veteran organizations, patriotic floats, fire trucks, horses and more.
Leading off the parade will be Johnston-Blessman Post 38’s Scarlet Guard Color Guard, while fellow Post 38 American Legion Family members will carry a banner celebrating America’s 250th birthday.
Post 38 will host a parade after-party that will include music from the Quantico Marine Band.
The Appleton Flag Day Parade attracts up to 50,000 spectators annually and also is livestreamed, as well as replayed later on WFRV Local 5.
- Flag