Flag Day commemorates the anniversary of the American flag. This year celebrates the 250th anniversary of the army. The Second Continental Congress declared that the American flag would have “thirteen stripes, alternate red and white,” and “thirteen stars, white in a blue field” in 1777. Did you know?

• The fifty stars on the flag represent the fifty states of the United States of America
• The thirteen stripes represent the thirteen British colonies that declared independence from Great Britain
• The thirteen colonies became the first states in the U.S.
• Nicknames for the flag include the Stars and Stripes, Old Glory, and the Star-Spangled Banner
• The flag of the United States has seven red stripes and six white stripes
• The U.S. flag is depicted on postage stamps
• The 250th festival will provide opportunities to interact with Soldiers, Army astronauts, NFL representatives, and Medal of Honor recipients
• The U.S. Army has a long history of protecting the American flag, both in battle and during times of peace

Homeschoolers/Parents/Educators: Sketch/color an illustration. Theme: freedom. Read the story called “War of 1812” in Learning to Read: American History Volume 1 (Kindle/paperback/audiobook). Put these words in alphabetical order and use in a sentence: flag, anthem, freedom, fort, capital. Explain why Francis Scott Key wrote the national anthem. List four facts about the U.S. flag. Write about the United States flag. (Skills: identification, application, creativity)