On today’s date June 14, 1954 President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed a bill that added the phrase “under God” to The Pledge of Allegiance of The United States.

Image: White House portrait of Dwight D. Eisenhower (1967) painted by James Anthony Wills via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

Old Flag Forever

“She’s up there, — Old Glory, — where lightnings are sped;
She dazzles the nations with ripples of red; And she’ll wave for us living, or droop o’er us dead, —
The flag of our country forever!

She’s up there, — Old Glory, — how bright the stars stream!
And the stripes like red signals of liberty gleam! And we dare for her, living, or dream the last dream,
‘Neath the flag of our country forever!

She’s up there, — Old Glory, — no tyrant-dealt scars,
No blur on her brightness, no stain on her stars!
The brave blood of heroes hath crimsoned her bars.
She’s the flag of our country forever!”

by Frank L. Stanton

From: Poems of American patriotism
by Frederic Lawrence Knowles, published c. 1898 – Source says not in copyright
https://archive.org/details/poemsofamericanp00know/page/36

Betsy Ross House in Philadelphia

c. 1897

via Wikimedia Commons, public domain.

“The Continental Congress adopted the Stars and Stripes as the official flag of our young republic on June 14, 1777. Describing the new flag, the Congress wrote, “White signifies Purity and Innocence; Red, Hardiness and Valor; Blue signifies Vigilance, Perseverance and Justice.” Over time, the flag’s design evolved to keep pace with our Nation’s development and growth, but its meaning as a symbol of democracy and freedom has remained constant.”

President George W. Bush in 2001

A photo taken in Honolulu on June 14, 1900 during admission of Hawaii as a U.S. Territory when the organic act went into effect.

Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

President Wilson delivering his Flag Day address from the steps of the United States Treasury Building, Washington.

June 14, 1915

Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

140th U.S. Flag Day poster.

1777-1917

‘Tis the Star Spangled Banner,
Oh, long may it wave, o’er the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave!’

Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

A photo of Officers of the 94th Aero Squadron taken on June 14, 1918

Caption from 1918 says:
L-R: 1st. Lieut.
E. V. Rickenbacker, U.S.R.
1st. Lieutenant Douglas
Campbell, U.S.R. (First
American Ace) and Captain
Kenneth Marr, U.S.R. Near
Toul, France

Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

Born June 14, 1811 Harriet Beecher Stowe authored 30 books in her lifetime but is best known for writing Uncle Tom’s Cabin in the early 1850’s. Stowe wrote that she enjoyed meeting President Lincoln in 1862 but there is no source that verifies he greeted her with “So you are the little woman who wrote the book that started this great war.”

Image from NARA via Wikimedia Commons, public domain in the US.

On June 14, 1959 the world’s first monorail with daily service began operating at Disneyland in Anahiem, California. There were two lines, red (shown here in 1963) and blue. The opening day ceremony was held at the park’s Tomorrowland and was attended by Vice President Richard Nixon and his family.

Image by Robert J. Boser (Editor ASC at en.wikpedia), CCA 3.0 Unported..

On June 14, 1775,
the Second Continental Congress established a Continental Army.

Image of an American rifleman of the Continental Army via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

“A Living Flag” – Recruits – Naval Station Great Lakes in Illinois

– 1917

via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

Over 7,400 students and staff at Naval Station Great Lakes recreating the Living Flag that was done in 1917.

June 14, 2010

Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain