[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 74 (Wednesday, June 14, 2000)]
[House]
[Page H4346]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          CELEBRATING FLAG DAY

  (Mr. GIBBONS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, ladies and gentlemen, today is Flag Day, of 
course, and a day to honor the symbol of our Nation, a symbol of our 
independence and a symbol of American ideals.
  Historically, the idea of celebrating an annual holiday honoring the 
United States flag and the anniversary of the official adoption of 
``The Stars and Stripes'' is believed to have first originated in 1885 
by a school teacher in Wisconsin.
  In the years following, the tradition grew; and in 1916, President 
Woodrow Wilson established Flag Day by a proclamation.
  Over 3 decades later, President Truman would sign an Act of Congress 
officially designating June 14 of each year as National Flag Day.
  I, like many Americans, look at our flag and see our history, our 
triumphs; and most importantly, I see our future.
  Today is a day to unite to pay tribute to the symbol which has grown 
with our country and represented our Nation's ideas since it first flew 
as ``The Stars and Stripes'' in 1777.
  On this day, I am proud to honor our flag and all that it represents.

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