Every June 14, we celebrate national pride and the fabric that unites us—the American flag. Before the Stars and Stripes became the emblem of the United States, Revolutionary War militias rallied under a patchwork of different banners. It was only when Congress passed the Flag Resolution on June 14, 1777, that the Stars and Stripes design was adopted as the official flag. To commemorate this historic milestone, then-president Woodrow Wilson proclaimed June 14 as Flag Day in 1916—a tribute to the banner that came to represent America's identity, values, and unity.

Interestingly, the current 50-star design wasn't created by a professional, but by Bob G. Heft, a high school student from Lancaster, Ohio, whose class project became a national symbol. As we honor the flag, etiquette reminds us never to let it touch the ground, to keep it illuminated when flown at night, and to dip it only in response to a salute from a foreign ship—timeless gestures of respect for this enduring emblem.