[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 96 (Thursday, June 14, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7720-S7721]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                                FLAG DAY

  Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, June 14 is celebrated in the United States 
as ``Flag Day.'' Flag Day is not a big holiday. Offices will not close 
to observe it; stores will not hold special sales; no fireworks will 
light the sky; no special presents or dinners will make June 14 stand 
out for most people. I doubt that even the holiday card makers have put 
out much of a selection of cards to send to loved ones, reminding them 
that we are thinking of them on Flag Day. But it is a special day 
nonetheless. One may notice more flags than usual--small ones 
cantilevered into the breeze next to neighborhood front doors and 
larger ones snapping smartly before schools and storefronts. In 
Washington, DC, of course, we are blessed with a plethora of flags. 
Flag Day is a good time to take special note of them, flying proudly 
above the Capitol Building and in front of all the other government 
offices and monuments, like those encircling the Washington Monument. 
They are a grand sight every day of the year, but especially so on Flag 
Day.
  Americans honor their flag, the Stars and Stripes, or Old Glory, on 
June 14 because it was on June 14, 1777--230 years ago--that the 
Continental Congress adopted a resolution to give the United States a 
national flag to replace the British Union Jack. A special committee 
was formed assigned to suggest the flag's design in a report. The 
resulting proclamation was brief but inspiring. It said, simply:

       That the flag of the United States shall be of 13 stripes 
     of alternate red and white, with a union of 13 stars of white 
     in a blue field, representing a new constellation.

  The new flag was first carried into battle on September 11, 1777, at 
the Battle of Brandywine, as General George Washington attempted to 
prevent the British from advancing on Philadelphia.
  The 13 stars on that first flag represented the 13 original colonies, 
but that constellation continued to grow as the Nation grew, until we 
became the 50 stars that grace Old Glory today. At first, the number of 
stripes grew as well, but that quickly became unwieldy, and the number 
of stripes reverted to 13, to represent the original 13 States in the 
Nation. George Washington is reputed to have said that:

       We take the stars from heaven, the red from our mother 
     country, separate it by white in stripes, thus showing that 
     we have separated from her.

  Certainly, the original congressional proclamation did not specify 
the symbolism of the colors of the flag, or the design, but that has 
only left the field of symbolism wide open for poets and philosophers, 
for generals and Presidents as well as everyday citizens. The red has 
been seen as the blood that has been shed for our Nation, as well as 
for the red of the British Union Jack. The white has been seen as 
purity or hope, while the blue has been compared to honor or to the 
heavens that guard over the Nation. Flags are full of symbols, and Old 
Glory means many things to Americans. It sums up our Nation in a single 
icon, and we project our love, pride, determination and even, 
sometimes, our frustration on it.
  The American flag usually brings out the best in us, or rather, the 
best in us usually brings out the American flag. There are few sights 
more moving than the sudden appearance of so many American flags on the 
afternoon of September 11, 2001, and in the days immediately after. The 
fierce determination and unshaken loyalty to our Nation in the face of 
a threat was clear in the sight of the flags that appeared on homes, 
stores, mailboxes and cars within hours of that unspeakable event.
  The Stars and Stripes are seen when we celebrate, such as on the 
Fourth of July or at inaugurations. Old Glory also marks more solemn 
occasions. The sight of the American flag draped over the coffin of a 
soldier home from the war, to be solemnly folded and placed in the lap 
of his grieving family, is a grim reminder of the sometimes great cost 
of serving our Nation. Those flags, sitting still folded in triangular 
flag cases on mantels, under shadowboxes with medals, and the small 
flags so carefully placed in front of the markers at veterans' 
cemeteries around the Nation on the last Monday in May, remind us of 
the close proximity between Memorial Day at the end of May and Flag Day 
in mid-June. But again soon, on July 4, we will see the Stars and 
Stripes back in party mode, flying proudly over our heads as a part of 
our grand national birthday celebration.
  Mr. President, I like to close my observation of Flag Day with one of 
my favorite poems, by Henry Holcomb Bennett, entitled ``The Flag Goes 
By.''

                            The Flag Goes By

     Hats off!
     Along the street there comes
     A blare of bugles, a ruffle of drums,
     A flash of color beneath the sky:
     Hats off!
     The flag is passing by!

     Blue and crimson and white it shines,
     Over the steel-tipped, ordered lines.
     Hats off!
     The colors before us fly;
     But more than the flag is passing by.

     Sea-fights and land-fights, grim and great, Fought to make 
           and save the State; Weary marches and sinking ships; 
           Cheers of victory on dying lips.

     Days of plenty and years of peace;
     March of a strong land's swift increase; Equal justice, 
           right, and law, Stately honor and reverend awe;

     Signs of nation, great and strong
     Toward her people from foreign wrong;
     Pride and glory and honor,--all
     Live in the colors to stand or fall.

     Hats off!
     Along the street there comes
     A blare of bugles, a ruffle of drums;
     And loyal hearts are beating high;
     Hats off!
     The Flag is passing by!

  Mr. CRAIG. Mr. President, today is a day of great significance to me 
and many Americans. In 1949, after decades of unofficial celebrations, 
President Truman signed an act of Congress that National Flag Day would 
be celebrated each year on June 14. Sadly, this national holiday goes 
unnoticed by far too many Americans. I wish to make a few brief 
comments about our Nation's flag on this day of celebration and 
remembrance.
  Whenever I get a chance to speak with foreign visitors to the United 
States, I like to ask about their impression of the United States, 
especially if it is their first time visiting. Time after time, they 
express amazement at the abundant presence of the U.S. flag, not only 
in Washington, DC, but in cities and towns of every size across the 
Nation.
  Truly, flags are flying everywhere, not only at government buildings 
but at restaurants, parks, malls, gas stations, along highways, not to 
mention

[[Page S7721]]

inside and outside private homes. Flag pins adorn lapels, flag stickers 
grace our cars, flag designs make for popular home decoration, and on 
Independence Day, our clothing often takes on the theme of Old Glory.
  Clearly, we Americans love our flag and love displaying it. It is an 
expression of patriotism, reverence, and love of country.
  From 1776 to today, from the marines who fought their way to plant 
the flag at the top of Iwo Jima to the firefighters who lifted the flag 
above the ruins of the World Trade Center, it is clear that our flag 
represents so much more than a nation. In truth, the American flag 
represents thousands of years of struggle to achieve political liberty, 
religious autonomy, and freedom from want. More important, our flag 
represents the inspiration of the life of our Nation and what humanity 
has the potential to accomplish.
  Throughout our Nation's history, the American flag has enjoyed the 
protection of its people and its laws. Unfortunately, this safeguard 
was eroded in 1989 by the Supreme Court decision in Texas v. Johnson. 
This decision, which many of my colleagues and I agree was misguided, 
found within the Constitution a right that had never before existed: 
the right to physically assault the flag under the first amendment. 
Since then, Members of Congress have been faced with reconciling the 
tension between ``free speech'' and the symbolic importance of the 
American flag. As citizens, we can no longer allow flag burning to be 
considered a ``norm'' in our society. Although we can do nothing when 
terrorists or those with anti-American sentiments defile our flag 
abroad, we owe it to our brave service men and women, to ourselves, and 
to our children to do something when it happens on our own soil.
  Our colleagues in the House have submitted a joint resolution to 
amend the Constitution to allow Congress to protect our flag. I do not 
take amending the Constitution lightly, but I commend the sponsoring 
representatives for taking action on such an important issue.
  On this Flag Day, I hope we can all remember that our flag is much 
more than tightly woven cotton mixed with beautiful colors. It is a 
true symbol of the struggle of this Nation to remain free and it flies 
tall as a reminder to all of the liberties that we enjoy as proud 
citizens of this country. The respect that our flag deserves depends on 
us. I will close by quoting Franklin K. Lane, former Secretary of the 
Interior, who said this about the flag:

       I am what you make me; nothing more. I swing before your 
     eyes as a bright gleam of color, a symbol of yourself.

  Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President. I would like to take a few moments to 
observe Flag Day.
  Two hundred thirty years ago this week the second Continental 
Congress passed a resolution that created the flag of our Nation. On 
Flag Day we commemorate the anniversary of this resolution and pay 
tribute to this honored symbol of the United States.
  For every generation of Americans the flag has represented the 
highest ideals of our Nation, democracy, liberty, and justice. I am 
proud that although the number of stars has changed over the years, 
what our flag stands for has not.
  I hope New Mexicans will take a moment today to honor the flag and 
all it represents.

                          ____________________