Dan Paul

“The Red and White and starry Blue is freedom’s shield and hope.”

What is it that triggers the formation of momentous ideas, a captured thought, an inspirational moment, or something else? What we do know is that this specific idea was born in 1885 to a teacher, Bob Cigrand, at a rural school in Wisconsin. At that time, Flag Day (June 14) was sporadically celebrated in various communities as there was no official national recognition.

So, as June 14 drew closer, Bob Cigrand brought into his classroom a small American flag and placed it into glass. (In 1885, there were only 38 states.) He assigned the students to write a personal essay, focusing on what the United States flag meant to them. It was this writing assignment that was the catalyst that spurred Cigrand’s desire to have June 14 nationally recognized as our nation’s official Flag Day.

Cigrand was so passionate that he traveled throughout the country, writing articles in newspapers and magazines, and giving speeches. He once noted that he had delivered more than 2,188 speeches on the flag and American patriotism.

Cigrand’s energy was not wasted, as he lived to see President Woodrow Wilson sign a proclamation designating June 14 as our national Flag Day. However, he had passed on by the time President Harry S. Truman signed an Act of Congress designating June 14 as National Flag Day.

Now, that isn’t quite the end of this story. You may wonder, “Why in the world was June 14 ever selected?” The answer is that on June 14, 1777, the Continental Congress had passed a resolution approving the design of our national flag. That is why that day is so symbolic.

In conclusion, never underestimate the impact one individual can make on a community, society, nation, or world. It’s ordinary people doing extraordinary things. We offer a big thanks to Bob Cigrand for his patriotic contribution to our nation that impacts us still today.

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Sources for this article include the following: The National Archives and the Ozaukee County (Wisconsin) Historical Society.