First observed nationally in 1877 to coincide with the centennial commemoration of the flag, the origins of Flag Day can be traced back to June 14, 1777, (available through the Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789 available through UConn Law catalog via HeinOnline) when the Continental Congress adopted the Stars and Stripes as the official flag of the United States. Only Pennsylvania observes Flag day as a legal holiday, but there are many resources that discuss our Flag and this observance.

In June of 1916, President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation for the national observance of Flag Day.  This observance was made permanent with H.J. Res 170 of the 81st Congress, and signed into law in 1949 by President Harry Truman.  This made Flag Day a permanent observance, Govinfo.gov summarizes the history of Flag Day. 

HeinOnline contains multiple resources about Flag Law and is available at the law library through our onsite computers and remotely for staff and students. In particular, its Supreme Court Library  features a four-volume set titled, Flag and the Law: A documentary History of the Treatment of the American Flag by the Supreme Court and Congress, (also available in print in the library) features resources about the history of the flag and relevant law up to 1993.

More information about resources can be found on the HeinOnline Blog, The Flag, the National Anthem, and the First Amendment. Also check out Senate Document 109-18, Our Flag, which discusses the history of  the Flag and observances.

For those interested in a deeper dive about the law governing unofficial flags on town property and school property in Connecticut, check out the research report authored UConn Law Alumna Taylorann Vibert: Unofficial Flags on Town and School Property through the Office of Legislative Research in Connecticut.

 

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