June 14 is Flag Day, which commemorates the official adoption of the American flag in 1777. Our nation’s first 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, as Vermont and Kentucky joined the Union, two more stars and two stripes were added. It was this version that served as muse to poet Francis Scott Key, who penned the poem that would later serve as the lyrics for ‘The Star-Spangled Banner.’ He wrote the words after watching the flag fly over the Battle of Baltimore during the War of 1812. The flags in our image are rippling over Liberty State Park in Jersey City, New Jersey.
Celebrating Flag Day: ‘O long may it wave’
Today in History
More Desktop Wallpapers:
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A city of bridges
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Working for that cliffside view
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Siblings Day
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Sharp-dressed bug
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A unique elephant encounter in Nantes
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The tale of squirrels like Nutkin
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How green is my valley
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Atop the roof of Africa
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Palouse farmland, Washington state
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And the skies filled with bats…
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Napping away New Year s Day
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Darwin Day
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Keyholes to the kingdom
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A star blows a bubble
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The ‘Night of Nights’
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They’re grrrape!
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Womens History Month
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International Zebra Day
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Uredd Rest Area, Norway
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Sligachan Old Bridge, Isle of Skye, Scotland
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Black grouses lekking
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Travel Sunday: On the Ganges in Varanasi, India
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Blink and you ll miss it
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Heavens Gate Cave, Tianmen Mountain National Park, China
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Four little birds sitting in a tree…
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International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival, Harbin, China
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World Elephant Day
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National Bird Day
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Groovy!
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Vermilion Cliffs National Monument