H.R. No. 2322

R E S O L U T I O N

WHEREAS, For more than two centuries, the American flag has symbolized the values, ideals, and spirit of our nation, and Americans celebrate Flag Day each year to mark the anniversary of the official adoption of the Stars and Stripes on June 14, 1777; and

WHEREAS, The idea for an annual day of celebration of the American flag is believed to have originated in 1885, when a Wisconsin public school teacher arranged for his students to commemorate "Flag Birthday" on June 14; celebrations were held throughout the late 19th century by the Betsy Ross House in Philadelphia, the New York Society of the Sons of the Revolution, and the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; and

WHEREAS, In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation establishing Flag Day as a nationwide observance, calling on Americans to consider it "a day upon which we should direct our minds with a special desire of renewal to thoughts of the ideals and principles of which we have sought to make our great Government the embodiment"; with the observance growing in popularity in communities around the country, President Harry Truman signed an Act of Congress in 1949 officially designating June 14 as National Flag Day; and

WHEREAS, Known fondly as the Stars and Stripes, Old Glory, and the Star-Spangled Banner, the flag originally bore 13 stars in a circle, representing the original 13 states of the union, and the number has expanded as the nation has grown; the blue field behind the stars signifies vigilance, perseverance, and justice; the flag's 13 stripes reflect the number of colonies that joined together to become an independent nation, with the white stripes also symbolizing purity and innocence and the red stripes symbolizing hardiness and valor; and

WHEREAS, The flag has been a source of strength and comfort to American troops in wartime and was a particularly poignant symbol for soldiers taking part in the D-Day invasion during World War II and for American prisoners of war in Vietnam; one of the POWs, Mike Christian, secretly sewed a flag to his clothing to inspire his fellow prisoners, and he was undaunted by the savage beating he received from his North Vietnamese captors in retaliation; and

WHEREAS, Citizens of totalitarian and communist countries often wave the American flag as a symbol of liberty and freedom; this was recently witnessed in Hong Kong, when protesters displayed the stars and stripes as part of their resistance to communist Chinese rule in the territory; and

WHEREAS, The patriotic display of the flag prompts many Americans to sing along with the Lee Greenwood hit "God Bless the U.S.A.," proclaiming "I thank my lucky stars - To be living here today - 'Cause the flag still stands for freedom - And they can't take that away"; moreover, country music icon Johnny Cash wrote his song "Ragged Old Flag" to "reaffirm faith in the country and the goodness of the American people," and the song is performed at events around the nation, from ceremonies at West Point to local Veterans Day and Independence Day observances; and

WHEREAS, The flag that once united our fledgling republic continues to be a beacon of hope and freedom for people around the world, and Flag Day serves as an occasion to celebrate the legacy of Old Glory and to reflect on the national heritage for which it stands; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas Legislature hereby commemorate June 14, 2024, as Flag Day and encourage all Texans to display and pay respect to the American flag.

Price

______________________________ Speaker of the House

I certify that H.R. No. 2322 was adopted by the House on May 29, 2023, by a non-record vote.

______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House