Flags will be at half staff this Flag Day to honor the 49 victims of the Orlando shooting.

TAMPA BAY – Flag Day is celebrated every June 14 to celebrate the birthday of the U.S. flag.

The National Flag Day Foundation explains the origins of Flag Day:

“On June 14th, 1885, Bernard J. Cigrand, a 19-year old-teacher at Stony Hill School, placed a 10-inch, 38-star flag in a bottle on his desk then assigned essays on the flag and its significance. This observance, commemorated Congress’ adoption of the Stars and Stripes as the flag of the United States on June 14, 1777. This observance was also the beginning of Cigrand’s long years of fervent and devoted effort to bring about national recognition and observance of Flag Day. The crowning achievement of his life came at age 50 when President [Woodrow] Wilson, on May 30, 1916, issued a proclamation calling for a nation wide observance of Flag Day. Then in 1949, President Truman signed an Act Of Congress designating the 14th day of June every year as National Flag Day.”

This year, flags will be flying at half staff in remembrance of the victims of the Orlando shooting. President Obama issued the following proclamation on Sunday (June 12):

“As a mark of respect for the victims of the act of hatred and terror perpetrated on Sunday, June 12, 2016, in Orlando, Florida, by the authority vested in me as president of the United States by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, I hereby order that the flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff at the White House and upon all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions until sunset, June 16, 2016. I also direct that the flag shall be flown at half-staff for the same length of time at all United States embassies, legations, consular offices, and other facilities abroad, including all military facilities and naval vessels and stations.”

Celebrations of the flag are also scheduled today. Two that we at TB Reporter know of:

Gulfport – 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., Veteran’s Park, 5350 31st Ave. S, American Legion Post 125, guest singer Chatherine Bassett and guest band, the New Horizon Band of Gulfport.

Indian Rocks Beach – Noon, Chic-a-Si Park next to the Indian Rocks Beach Historical Museum, 203 Fourth Ave. This celebration not only honor the flag, it also serves as a time to collect flags that have become tattered or torn. Flags may be dropped off at the Indian Rocks Beach City Hall, 1507 Bay Palm Blvd.

For information about Flag Day, go to nationalflagday.com. For information about Gulfport, go to mygulfport.us. For information about Indian Rocks Beach, go to indianrocksbeach.com.

Flag Day | Orlando Shooting | Gulfport | Indian Rocks Beach | TB Reporter

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