Today — and every June 14 since 1916 — is Flag Day. Established in 1916 by President Woodrow Wilson, Flag Day later became law in 1949 under President Harry Truman. The law requires the president to make a Flag Day proclamation each year.

Here are snippets from President George Bush’s proclamation:

“The American Flag represents freedom and has been an enduring symbol of our Nation’s ideals since the earliest days of our Nation. Wherever it flies, we are reminded of America’s unity and in the great cause of liberty and justice for all.”

“Americans have long flown our flag as a sign of patriotism and gratitude for the blessings of liberty. We also pledge allegiance to the flag as an expression of loyalty to our country and to the belief in the American creed of freedom and justice.”

Read Bush’s full proclamation here.

For more flag history, check out:
• A flag timeline
• Flag facts
• The Library of Congress

But what I would really like to know is…Where do all those flags around Barstow come from?

— Aaron Aupperlee, staff writer