June 14 is Flag Day, which commemorates the adoption of the flag of the United States in 1777. Our nation"s first official flag had 13 stars and 13 red and white stripes to represent the original 13 colonies that broke from British rule. The stars were arranged on a blue background to represent a "new constellation." In 1795, two more stars and two stripes were added to reflect the entry of Vermont and Kentucky to the Union. Then in 1818, Congress passed a plan to go back to 13 stripes and add only stars for new states. The current version of the flag has been in effect since 1960, after Hawaii became a state the prior year. The flags we"re looking at here are flying in New Jersey"s Liberty State Park, with the Statue of Liberty in the background.
Celebrating Flag Day
Today in History
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Manatee Awareness Month
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International Literacy Day
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Earth Day
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Observing World Braille Day in Bavaria
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National Trails Day
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Endangered Species Act
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International Day of Human Space Flight
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A delta in the Venetian Lagoon, Italy
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Welcome to the Year of the Pig
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A medieval Moorish gem
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Womens History Month
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Into the woods
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Remembering Krakatoa
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Happy Arbor Day!
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Why, aloe there
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International Sloth Day
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South Stack Lighthouse, Holy Island, Wales
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Poinsettia Day
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Get the bear facts
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The Crown Jewel of the North Atlantic
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Keep your hands inside the ride at all times…
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Last stop before leaving the solar system
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The Kelpies statues in Falkirk, Scotland
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The Battle of the Bulge 75 years later
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Celtic Colours International Festival, Canada
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Reflections on the mighty Amazon
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Celebrating National Panda Day
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Tegallalang terrace farms in Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
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Entoloma hochstetteri mushroom at Lake Mahinapua, New Zealand
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Rooftops in the walled city of Urbino, Italy
Bing Wallpaper Gallery

