Flag Day: 7 interesting facts about the American flag and its history

By Michael Gryboski, Editor Sunday, June 14, 2026

U.S. and U.K. flags fly near a flag celebrating the United States' 250th anniversary of independence ahead of the state visit of Britain's King Charles III and Britain's Queen Camilla in Washington, D.C., on April 27, 2026. King Charles III arrives in Washington Monday for a high-stakes state visit aimed at salvaging Britain's frayed ties with Donald Trump, amid extra-tight security following an attack on a gala dinner attended by the U.S. president. Tensions over the Iran war have rocked the so-called "special relationship" ahead of a trip that was meant to mark the United States' 250th anniversary of independence from the British monarch's ancestors. | Ken Cedeno/AFP via Getty Images

The United States celebrates Flag Day on Sunday, marking the anniversary of the Continental Congress's passage of a resolution approving the creation of a national flag.

June 14 first became a national observance in 1916 with the issuing of a proclamation from President Woodrow Wilson. It became an official holiday in 1949 when President Harry Truman signed legislation to that effect.

The observance often involves a medley of patriotic activities, not least of which includes Americans across the country flying the beloved symbol from their homes.

In honor of Flag Day and the upcoming 250th anniversary of the United States Declaration of Independence, here are seven interesting facts about the American flag and its history.