A small gathering of elected officials and community members joined Hopkins County Marine Corps League Tuesday morning for a Flag Day observance on Celebration Plaza.
The service began with the Marine Corps League removing head cover as a prayer was offered to start the ceremony. A prayer of thanks was given for for the men and women of the original 13 colonies who “put together the formation of this great nation and for those who have stood defending the Constitution.”
Prayer was offered for grace, wisdom and protection for America and the challenges all face as individuals and as a nation today and always. Thanks was offered for the flag of the United States of America and all that it represents.
Those present for the ceremony recited the Pledge of Allegiance to the USA flag. Bob Kerr with HCMCL read the poem, “The Flag That Makes Men Free,” by Kate Brownlee Sherwood, which talks of the battles it’s seen, the meaning behind the colors, the liberties and the need to guard it for hope for a better future.
Kerr then read a proclamation issued June 10, 2022, by President Joe Biden declaring June 14, 2022, as Flag Day, and the week starting June 12, 2022, as National Flag Week.
“I direct the appropriate officials to display the flag on all Federal Government buildings during this week, and I urge all Americans to observe Flag Day and National Flag Week by displaying the flag and honoring all of our brave service members and revering those who gave their last full measure of devotion defending our freedoms. I encourage the people of the United States to observe with pride and all due ceremony those days from Flag Day through Independence Day, set aside by the Congress (89 Stat. 211), as a time to honor the American spirit, to celebrate our history and the foundational values we strive to uphold, and to publicly recite the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America,” Kerr read from the proclamation.
On June 14, 1777, the Continental Congress passed a resolution adopting a flag for the United States of America which specified the composition of the flag for the new nation would include 13 alternating red and white stripes with 13 stars on a blue field to represent the 13 colonies that declared independence. Since then, the stars have increased to account for the 50 states in the union.
To commemorate the adoption of the flag, Congress in a joint resolution approved August 3, 1949, amended 63 Stat. 492, officially designating June 14 of each year as “Flag Day” and requested the President issue an annual proclamation calling for its observance and for the display of the flag of the United States on all Federal Government buildings. Congress on June 9, 1966, amended 80 Stat. 194, requesting at that the President issue an annual proclamation designating the week in which June 14 occurs as “National Flag Week” and calling upon all citizens of the United States to display the flag during that week.
Hence, June 14 is designated annually as Flag Day and the week in which it falls as National Flag Week celebrate “the journey of progress represented in our banner and pay tribute to the inspiration it gives Americans at home and abroad,” according to the Presidential Proclamation.
The flag, flown at half-staff during the ceremony, was once again raised with bugle playing by Camilo (Cam) Perez. Kerr concluded the Flag Day observance by thanked those present for attending and wished them enjoyment of their day on Flag Day.
