THE STARS and stripes were on display Sunday in communities across the nation as Flag Day was observed.

Flag Day has been celebrated in the United States on June 14 every year for nearly a century now. President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation in 1916 officially establishing Flag Day on June 14. Congress established National Flag Day in 1949.

June 14 commemorates the date that our flag was officially adopted as the national flag of the United States of America. This action took place on this day in 1777 through the passage of a resolution by the Second Continental Congress.

Although the flag has changed a number of times since then, what it stands for has remained the same. It’s a symbol of our strength and unity as a nation, and displaying it shows our patriotism and love for our country.

In observation of Flag Day, everyone is asked to display the American flag proudly outside government buildings, private organizations and residences.

It can also be displayed all week, since as part of National Flag Day, the day kicks off National Flag Week.

Flag Day is not a federal holiday like Memorial Day, Labor Day, Independence Day and others when government and public offices are closed. However, it is a national observance in which everyone can take part and show their patriotism.

Old Glory is full of symbolism. The stars and stripes represent our nation’s history, with 13 red and white stripes representing the original 13 colonies, and now 50 stars in a blue field representing the 50 states of the union. The stars appear as a constellation, showing united together.

But the Star-Spangled Banner means much more than its symbols represent. Throughout American history, it has been there through thick and thin, lifting the spirits of Americans and reminding everyone what this nation represents. From the hill at Iwo Jima to the moon landing, the wreckage of the World Trade Center, the graves at Arlington National Cemetery, the red, white and blue has been a part of our history, just as much as it represents our history.

Let’s fly the flag high this week as we salute Old Glory and everything it represents.