Flag Day 2023: America’s Flag Day commemorates the ratification of the first national flag by the Second Continental Congress on June 14, 1777. The first flag had the same thirteen red and white stripes as the current flag. However, as the number of states has grown over the centuries, so has the number and arrangement of stars. Since 1960, the existing flag has remained unchanged. Will we eventually move from 50 to 51? Following is a list of potential statehood candidates. Consider this a warm-up for the Fourth of July, which is in just 20 days.
5 UNITED STATES FLAGS BY THE NUMBERS
50 and still counting
We have been 50 for almost 60 years. Candidates for the fifty-first star? Guam, Puerto Rico, and Washington, D.C.
49
Seven times seven? A flawless square. This flag contains so much good fortune that we must thank Alaska (January 1959) for joining us. This monarch’s reign was brief. Hawaii (August 1959) was about to turn 50 years old.
48
With the addition of New Mexico and Arizona in 1912, it featured such beautiful symmetry and flew triumphantly for 47 years.
31
The number 31 does not lend itself naturally to orderly patterns. Seeing the lack of symmetry, if we didn’t adore California (added in 1850) so much, we probably would have made it secede. This flag stood for seven years!
13
The original American flag is the only one to openly defy its successors’ straight line pattern. If you ask us, the 13 stars in a circle more accurately depict the union.
FLAG DAY DATES
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | June 14 | Wednesday |
| 2024 | June 14 | Friday |
| 2025 | June 14 | Saturday |
| 2026 | June 14 | Sunday |
| 2027 | June 14 | Monday |
