[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 84 (Monday, June 8, 2009)]
[House]
[Pages H6282-H6284]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          CELEBRATING FLAG DAY

  Mr. LYNCH. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (H. Res. 420) celebrating the symbol of the United 
States flag and supporting the goals and ideals of Flag Day.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 420

       Whereas Flag Day is celebrated annually on June 14, the 
     anniversary of the official adoption of the American flag by 
     the Continental Congress in 1777;
       Whereas on June 14, 1777, in order to establish an official 
     flag for the new Nation, the Continental Congress passed the 
     first Flag Act, which stated, ``Resolved, That the flag of 
     the United States be made of thirteen stripes, alternate red 
     and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue 
     field, representing a new Constellation'';
       Whereas the second Flag Act, signed January 13, 1794, 
     provided for 15 stripes and 15 stars after May 1795;
       Whereas the Act of April 4, 1818, which provided for 13 
     stripes and one star for each State, to be added to the flag 
     on July 4 following the admission of each new State, was 
     signed by President James Monroe;
       Whereas in an Executive order dated June 24, 1912, 
     President William Howard Taft established the proportions of 
     the flag and provided for arrangement of the stars in 6 
     horizontal rows of 8 each, a single point of each star to be 
     upward;
       Whereas in an Executive order dated January 3, 1959, 
     President Dwight D. Eisenhower provided for the arrangement 
     of the stars in 9 rows staggered horizontally and 11 rows of 
     stars staggered vertically;
       Whereas the first celebration of the American flag is 
     believed to have been introduced by Bernard Cigrand, a 
     Wisconsin school teacher, who arranged for his pupils at 
     Stony Hill School in Waubeka to celebrate June 14 as ``Flag 
     Birthday'' in 1885;
       Whereas on June 14, 1894, the Governor of New York ordered 
     that the American flag be

[[Page H6283]]

     displayed at all public buildings in the State, prompting 
     many State and local governments to begin observing Flag Day;
       Whereas President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the first 
     nationwide Flag Day in 1916;
       Whereas in 1947, President Harry S. Truman signed 
     legislation requesting National Flag Day be observed 
     annually;
       Whereas the United States flag is a symbol of our great 
     Nation and its ideals;
       Whereas in times of national crisis, Americans look to the 
     United States flag as a symbol of hope, courage, and freedom;
       Whereas the United States flag is universally honored;
       Whereas the United States flag honors the men and women of 
     the Armed Forces who have given their life in the defense of 
     the United States;
       Whereas the United States flag serves as a treasured symbol 
     of the loss of loved ones to the countless families of those 
     who died in defense of our Nation; and
       Whereas June 14, 2009, is recognized as Flag Day: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives celebrates the 
     United States flag and supports the goals and ideals of Flag 
     Day.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Massachusetts (Mr. Lynch) and the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Chaffetz) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Massachusetts.


                             General Leave

  Mr. LYNCH. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Massachusetts?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. LYNCH. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, House Resolution 420 celebrates our Nation's most 
enduring symbol: the American flag. With this resolution, this Chamber 
expresses its support for the annual recognition of Flag Day.
  The gentleman from Ohio, Representative Robert Latta, introduced 
House Resolution 420 on May 17, 2009, and the Committee on Oversight 
and Government Reform reported it out on June 4, 2009, by unanimous 
consent. With 64 cosponsors, it is a clear demonstration of Congress' 
appreciation and respect for our Nation's flag.
  We celebrate Flag Day on June 14, the anniversary of the Continental 
Congress' passage of the first Flag Act in 1777. Since then, Americans 
have looked to the flag as a symbol of their country and its dearest 
values. The flag represents us and all of our fellow citizens, and I am 
always heartened to see the parades and events that occur around the 
country each year in commemoration of Flag Day, especially in one of my 
favorite towns, the town of Dedham, Massachusetts, which has a 
wonderful parade each year on Flag Day. And in the town of Dedham 
around Flag Day, it is hard to find a home without the American flag 
hanging on the front door.
  The flag honors the countless men and women who have died during the 
defense of the United States in the Armed Forces. In short, the 
American flag is a lasting symbol of their sacrifice. As public 
servants, we rightly pledge our allegiance to the flag each day, as do 
the millions of Americans for whom we represent and serve here in this 
Chamber. While each day of the year the American flag stands before the 
entire world as a symbol of our shared values, hopes, aspirations, and 
ideals, I am glad to see that we set aside the time each June to 
celebrate the American flag and all that it represents.
  With that, Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CHAFFETZ. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  I rise today in support of this legislation, supporting the goals and 
ideals of Flag Day.
  The American flag has been our national symbol for 232 years, and it 
remains a symbol of freedom wherever it is flown. In 1777, when the 
Second Continental Congress adopted the stars and stripes and its 
beautiful red, white, and blue design, our flag has stood for liberty 
and justice. Flag Day was first celebrated throughout the country in 
1885, as one early supporter, Bernard Cigrand, a Wisconsin 
schoolteacher, wanted June 14 to be known as ``Flag Birthday.'' The 
idea quickly caught on and many people wanted to participate. In 1894, 
the Governor of New York asked that all public buildings fly the flag 
on June 14 to begin observing Flag Day. And in 1916, President Woodrow 
Wilson proclaimed Flag Day as a national celebration. However, the 
holiday was not officially recognized until 1949 when President Harry 
Truman signed the national Flag Day bill.
  Since the beginning of our Republic, Americans have flown the flag to 
show their appreciation and pride for this great Nation. Every day 
Americans pledge their allegiance to the flag, and our troops carry the 
flag as they defend the liberties for which it stands and which 
represent this country, the United States of America.
  On Flag Day, we remember the importance of our oldest national 
symbols and reflect the loss of loved ones who have died in defense of 
this great Nation.
  Let us pledge allegiance to this flag to declare our patriotism and 
raise its colors high to express our pride and respect for the American 
way of life. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LYNCH. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
continue to reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CHAFFETZ. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to 
my distinguished colleague from the State of Ohio (Mr. Latta).
  Mr. LATTA. I appreciate the gentleman for yielding.
  Madam Speaker, I am pleased to stand before you today in support of 
the resolution I introduced, House Resolution 420. This resolution 
celebrates the symbol of the United States and supports the goals and 
ideals of Flag Day.
  Flag Day is celebrated on June 14, which is the anniversary of the 
official adoption of the American flag by the Continental Congress in 
1777. This was done by the first Flag Act, which stated, ``Resolved, 
that the flag of the United States be made of 13 stripes, alternating 
red and white, that the union be 13 stars, white in a blue field, 
representing a new constellation.''
  Since 1777, our flag's design has been altered three times under 
executive orders, rearranging the designs of the stars and stripes each 
time a State was added.
  As the gentleman from Utah has stated, the history of Flag Day traces 
its roots to the first celebration of the American flag, which is 
believed to have been introduced by Bernard Cigrand, a Wisconsin 
schoolteacher who arranged for his students at Stony Hill School to 
celebrate June 14 as ``Flag Birthday'' in 1885. President Woodrow 
Wilson proclaimed the first nationwide Flag Day in 1916, and in 1947, 
President Harry Truman signed legislation requesting that national Flag 
Day be observed annually.
  Flag Day is an important day of celebration as our flag is the 
official symbol of our great Nation and its ideals. Our flag serves as 
a beacon of hope, courage, and freedom during times of crisis and 
triumph alike. The flag honors the men and women of the Armed Forces 
who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in defending the United States and 
serves as a symbol for those families who have lost loved ones while 
defending our Nation.
  Madam Speaker, it is with great honor that I ask for unanimous 
consent on House Resolution 420 as we celebrate our Nation's flag.
  Mr. LYNCH. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CHAFFETZ. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and 
I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. LYNCH. Madam Speaker, I again urge our colleagues to join Mr. 
Latta, the lead sponsor of this resolution, in affirming our allegiance 
to our flag and our support for the annual celebration of Flag Day by 
supporting this measure.
  Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Lynch) that the House suspend the 
rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 420.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.

[[Page H6284]]

  Mr. LYNCH. Madam Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a 
quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not 
present.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.
  The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.

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