Why isn't Flag Day a federal holiday?

Forums: Flag Day, Holidays, Celebrations
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Today is Flag Day 2012. Flag Day, June 14, commemorates the anniversary of the adoption of the US flag by the Continental Congress in 1777. It’s celebrated across the nation by ordinary citizens hanging out their red-white-and-blue Stars and Stripes. President Harry Truman made sure of that in 1949 when he signed a congressional resolution setting June 14 as Flag Day’s official date. But it is not a full-blown federal holiday. Why is that?

The short answer is that Flag Day was not included in the 1968 Uniform Holiday Act. This legislation set the framework for the 11 official federal holidays and multiple three-day weekends that US workers (and mattress discounters, new car dealers, and other sale-oriented retailers) know and love today.

The longer answer is that Flag Day is a bit of an orphan holiday. It does not have the historical cachet of Washington’s Birthday. (No, that February day off is not a federal “Presidents’ Day.” Look it up.) Nor does it have the backing of organized interest groups that helped produce Labor Day and Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/DC-Decoder/Decoder-Wire/2012/0614/Why-isn-t-Flag-Day-a-federal-holiday

What do you think? I'm all in favor of another hoopla holiday inthe middle of June. Write your Congressman!

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Type: Discussion • Score: 8 • Views: 3,157 • Replies: 13

[+4] - Roberta - 06/15/2012Why isn't Arbor Day or Earth Day a national holiday? Some days is; some days ain't.

Too many Florence Nightingales
Not enough Robin Hoods
Too many halos not enough heroes
Coming up with the goods

So you though you'd like to change the world
Decided to stage a jumble sale
For the poor, for the poor

So you thought you'd like to see them healed
Got Blue Peter to stage an appeal
For the poor, for the poor

Its a waste of time if you know what they mean
Try shaking a box in front of the Queen
cause her purse is fat and bursting at the seams
Its a waste of time if you know what they mean

Too many hands in too many pockets
Not enough hands on hearts
Too many ready to call it a day
Before the day starts

So you thought you'd like to see them healed
Got Blue Peter to stage an appeal
For the poor, for the poor

So you though you'd like to change the world
Decided to stage a jumble sale
For the poor, for the poor

Its a waste of time if you know what they mean
Try shaking a box in front of the queen
cause her purse is fat and bursting at the seams
Its a waste of time if you know what they mean

Flag day, Flag Day, Flag Day

0 Replies

@Lustig Andrei,

Flag Day was always a big deal at our house because it's my mom's birthday too!

She was raised in this tiny town in Oklahoma and everyone - the whole town, everyone - told her they hung their flags out to celebrate her birthday. She blames her patriotic nature on this fun little lie.

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@boomerang,

flag day was when all the playgrounds would open when I was a kid. Wed have a summer of baseball, swimming, fishing, and just goofing around.
Summer was a vast ocean of time before me when I was a kid. It seems such a "ashort subject" nowadays. My perception of time has sped up considerably

0 Replies

@boomerang,

boomerang wrote:

Flag Day was always a big deal at our house because it's my mom's birthday too!

She was raised in this tiny town in Oklahoma and everyone - the whole town, everyone - told her they hung their flags out to celebrate her birthday. She blames her patriotic nature on this fun little lie.

OMG, that's so funny. I was just about to post the 6/14 was my brothers birthday too. He was also told everyone flew their flag that date because of him.

What are the odds, huh?

chai(I'd say one in 365, or 6)tea

0 Replies

Why isn't Arbor Day or Earth Day a national holiday? Some days is; some days ain't.

1 Reply

I'd definitely go with Earth Day over Flag Day any day.

0 Replies

@Roberta,

I'm rooting for a national Roberta Day myself.

0 Replies

ok, I'll go along with you there, but we gotta have it in that long barren stretch between Presidents' Day and Memorial Day, and everyone's gotta go parading with a beautiful animal on it.

1 Reply

@MontereyJack,

tsar, I humbly accept. (Do I get paid for this? Even if I don't, I accept.)

MJ, I like the animal idea. A lot.

PS: I lied about accepting humbly. I ain't that humble. As a matter of fact, I say it's about time.

1 Reply

@Roberta,

Roberta wrote:

tsar, I humbly accept. (Do I get paid for this? Even if I don't, I accept.)

I'd suggest a dollar donation to you in royalties from everyone who wishes to participate in this glorious day.

0 Replies

@Lustig Andrei,

From 1809 till 1983 the 6th of June has been the Swedish Flag Day.
1983 the 6th of June was declared Sweden´s National Day
2055 it also became a holiday.

So why should it not work i USA?

1 Reply

@saab,

2055, you Swedes are always ahead of the game. Wink

Why isn't Flag Day a federal holiday?

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