THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY MIRABITO, ADOLPH, AUMENT, BOYD, K. BOYLE, BRADFORD, BRENNAN, CALTAGIRONE, D. COSTA, CREIGHTON, CUTLER, DALEY, DiGIROLAMO, DONATUCCI, EVERETT, FLECK, FREEMAN, GEIST, GEORGE, GINGRICH, GOODMAN, HAHN, HARHAI, HENNESSEY, HESS, HORNAMAN, KAVULICH, W. KELLER, KORTZ, KULA, LONGIETTI, MAJOR, MANN, McGEEHAN, MILLARD, MOUL, MULLERY, MURT, PASHINSKI, PEIFER, RAPP, READSHAW, REICHLEY, ROSS, SAINATO, SANTONI, K. SMITH, SONNEY, STABACK, STERN, SWANGER, TALLMAN, VEREB, VULAKOVICH, YOUNGBLOOD AND BROOKS, MAY 18, 2011

INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, MAY 18, 2011  

A RESOLUTION

Recognizing June 14, 2011, as "National Flag Day" in

Pennsylvania.

WHEREAS, On June 14, 2011, Americans will observe the 234th

anniversary of the flag of the United States of America; and

WHEREAS, This special day provides a time for the residents

of this Commonwealth to reflect on the rich history of our

nation's flag and its meaning to Americans and people around the

world; and

WHEREAS, The Boy Scouts of America are deeply committed to

preserving the American tradition of honoring National Flag Day;

and

WHEREAS, The Continental Congress adopted the Stars and

Stripes as the official flag of the United States on June 14,

1777; and

WHEREAS, Describing the new flag, the Congress wrote, "White

signifies Purity and Innocence; Red, Hardiness and Valor; Blue

signifies Vigilance, Perseverance and Justice"; and

WHEREAS, Over time, the flag's design evolved to keep pace

with our nation's development and growth, but its meaning as a

symbol of democracy and freedom has remained constant; and

WHEREAS, Flag Day was first celebrated throughout the country

in 1877; and

WHEREAS, As so often happens in our communities, a caring

teacher encouraging students to develop a love for learning

sparked renewed interest in the flag; and

WHEREAS, Wisconsin schoolteacher B.J. Cigrand arranged for

his pupils in 1885 to observe the 108th anniversary of the

flag's official adoption; and

WHEREAS, In magazine and newspaper articles and public

addresses in the following years, Cigrand promoted an official

national celebration of June 14 as Flag Birthday or Flag Day;

and

WHEREAS, Groups in Pennsylvania, New York and Illinois took

up the cause, and after three decades of state and local

celebrations, President Woodrow Wilson officially established

Flag Day by proclamation in 1916; and

WHEREAS, During World War II, Americans looked to the purity,

hardiness, valor, vigilance, perseverance and justice

represented by the flag as ideals worthy of the ultimate

sacrifice in order to defeat tyranny; and

WHEREAS, In celebration of the flag's powerful meaning to

Americans and its place in our culture and history, Flag Day

became a national observance by act of Congress in 1949 and

signed into law by President Harry Truman; and

WHEREAS, On August 3, 1949, to commemorate the adoption of

the American flag, Congress, by joint resolution, designated

June 14 of each year as Flag Day and requested the president to

issue an annual proclamation calling for a national observance

and for the display of the flag of the United States on all

Federal Government buildings; and

WHEREAS, In a second joint resolution approved June 9, 1966,

Congress requested the president to issue annually a

proclamation designating the week during which June 14 falls as

National Flag Week and called upon all citizens of the United

States to display the flag during that week; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize June

14, 2011, as "National Flag Day" in Pennsylvania.