Happy Flag Day! This is the day that Americans across the country post the United States flag. Streets are lined with old Glory. Americans started celebrating Flag Week on Sunday.

I forgot. In this day of political correct common core, they probably don’t teach this in school. Title 36 of the United States Code (PDF) covers all Patriotic Observances. Flag Day is covered in Section 110 of the code. The observance commemorates the adoption of the first United States flag on June 14, 1777. National Flag Week is covered under Section 122, of Title 36, and is the week in which June 14 occurs.

There is more. There is Honor America Days. This is covered in Section 112 of Title 36. Honor America Days is the 21-days from Flag Day until July 4 in which,

Congress declares that there be public gatherings and activities during that period at which the people of the United States can celebrate and honor their country in an appropriate way.

I can only find one city that has events celebrating Honor America Days, though they conduct their celebration a couple of weeks after. Rome, New York (Facebook) has an Honor America Days parade on July 30. Although they do have a Patriotic 5/10K run during the 21-day period.

Another little know fact is that Independence was declared on July 2, not July 4. The declaration was issued to the public two-days after the vote taken by Congress to be read and declared publicly. John Adams wrote to his wife Abigail on July 3,

The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.