Each year on June 14, Americans pause to recognize one of the nation’s most familiar and meaningful symbols: the United States flag.

The date goes back to June 14, 1777, during the Revolutionary War, when the Continental Congress adopted a resolution establishing an official flag for the new nation. The resolution called for thirteen alternating red and white stripes and thirteen white stars on a blue field, representing the original thirteen colonies.

Although the flag’s design has changed as new states joined the Union, the original meaning remains part of its identity. Today, the flag has 50 stars for the 50 states, while the 13 stripes still honor the colonies that declared independence.

Flag Day did not become widely recognized right away. In the late 1800s, schools and patriotic groups began holding programs to teach the history of the flag and encourage respect for it. President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation recognizing June 14 as Flag Day in 1916. Congress later made the observance official in 1949.

For many Americans, the flag represents freedom, sacrifice, unity and service. It has flown over schools, homes, government buildings, military posts and battlefields. It is raised in celebration, lowered in mourning and displayed during moments that bring communities together.

As June 14 approaches, residents are encouraged to display the flag and take a moment to reflect on the history behind it. More than two centuries after the first flag resolution was adopted, the Stars and Stripes remains a powerful symbol of the United States and the ideals Americans continue to value.