Give Your Tattered Stars and Stripes a Proper Send-off

It's Flag Day, a day of tribute to Old Glory. It's also a good time to give any frayed and tattered symbols of freedom a proper retirement.

A Flag Retirement Ceremony is set for 7:30-8:30 p.m. tonight at the Bloomfield Township Public Library. The flags will be  honored in a ceremony led by Life Scout Nick Labensky as part of his Eagle Scout Leadership and Service Project.

Collections will continue through June 22 at:

• The information desk of the Bloomfield Township Public Library.
• Bloomfield Township offices and the Bloomfield Township fire stations.
• Hollywood Super Market, 1525 S Opdyke Rd.
• City of Bloomfield Hills offices.

Flags collected by will be disposed of according to U.S. Flag Code standards at a Boy Scouts of America Troop camp out on the June 24 weekend.

Labensky graduated this year from the International Academy and is a member of BSA Troop 1005, which is chartered by Christ Church Cranbrook. For more infomation, contact him at 248-497-4142 or email flagretirement@gmx.com.

Flag Day History

The 50-star flag became the official flag of the U.S. on July 4, 1960, and while it will be hoisted and celebrated on that same date this year, it's official "birthday" is today.

National Flag Day, celebrated each year on June 14, is believed to have originated in 1885. It was not until President Harry Truman signed an Act of Congress on Aug. 3, 1949 that the date became official.

Timeline

• June 14, 1777 – Congress adopts the Stars and Stripes as the flag of the U.S.
• June 14, 1885 – Bernard J. Cigrand, a Wisconsin teacher, placed a 10-inch, 38-star flag in a bottle on his desk and assigned essays on the flag and its significance.
• June 14, 1891 – The Betsy Ross House in Philadelphia hosts a Flag Day celebration.
• May 30, 1916 – President Woodrow Wilson issues a proclamation calling for a nationwide observance of Flag Day.
• Aug. 3, 1949 – President Harry Truman signs an Act Of Congress designating the 14th day of June every year as National Flag Day. 
• June 14, 2004 – The 108th U.S. Congress votes unanimously on H.R. 662 that Flag Day originated in Ozaukee County, WI.

Timeline facts courtesy of NationalFlagDay.com and USFlag.org.

Red, White and Blue Meaning

• The stripes represent the 13 original colonies.
• The 50 stars represent the number of states.
• The colors of the flag have meaning as well: red symbolizes hardiness and valor; white symbolizes purity and innocence; blue represents vigilance, perseverance and justice.

Meaning courtesy of PBS America Responds.