The city of Allentown and the 112 year-old Allentown Flag Day Association held a Flag Day observance at 12 noon today outside City Hall.
Flag Day has
its origin back in 1885 in a Fredonia, Wisconsin elementary school, where a
teacher promoted June 14 as “Flag Birthday.”
The celebration first came to Pennsylvania
in 1891. In 1893, the school
superintendent of the City of Philadelphia
directed that Flag Day exercises be held in Independence Square. Each child carried a small flag, and
patriotic songs were sung and addresses delivered.
The Allentown
Flag Day Association is the oldest incorporated Flag Day Association in
America. President Harry Truman signed an Act of Congress in 1949 designating June 14 of each year as National Flag Day.
Mayor Ray O'Connell issued a Flag Day proclamation at today's event.
A ceremony will held tonight at 7 o'clock at West Park featuring the Allentown Band.