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
More Desktop Wallpapers:
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Bobbing for crab apples
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Petrified Forest National Park
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Bird’s-eye view of the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, California
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Keep your hands inside the ride at all times…
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Bonifacio on the island of Corsica, France
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Peel Castle on St. Patrick’s Isle with the Isle of Man in the background
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Gray seal pup, Norfolk, England
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Museum Night in Berlin
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First Cliff Walk
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European hedgehog in Sussex, England
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National Blueberry Day
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One giant leap for penguins
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Cousins Day
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International Day of Light
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Rice processing in Bangladesh
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‘The memory of Abraham Lincoln is enshrined forever’
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World Oceans Day
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Lake Peipus, Estonia
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It’s Canada’s national day
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An enduring vision
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International Polar Bear Day
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Balloon Ascension Day
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Cherry blossoms in Shanghai, China
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Three cheers for polar bears!
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Love blossoms
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75 years of the United Nations
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Manatee Appreciation Day
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Class, please take out a No. 2 pencil…
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Dancers perform ‘Revelations’
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With leaves this tasty, who cares about a view?