Assembly Resolution No. 581

BY: M. of A. Solages

COMMEMORATING June 14, 2017, as Flag Day

WHEREAS, The American Flag, symbol of the Republic for 241 years,
has undergone many changes over its history; the current 50-star version
was raised for the first time officially at 12:01 a.m., July 4, 1960, at
Fort McHenry National Monument in Baltimore, Maryland, heralding the
admission of our 50th state, Hawaii; and

WHEREAS, The first colonial flag to represent all the colonies is
believed to have been raised on Prospect Hill in Boston at the Battle of
Bunker Hill; this flag, "the Continental Colors" or "the Great Union
flag," bore the cross of the British flag in the upper left corner with
13 alternating red and white stripes extending horizontally; and

WHEREAS, The "Stars and Stripes" originated as the result of a
resolution offered by the Marine Committee of the second Continental
Congress at Philadelphia, and adopted on June 14, 1777; it read as
follows: "Resolved: that the flag of the United States be thirteen
stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars,
white in a blue field, representing a new constellation"; and

WHEREAS, The Great State of New York has a unique connection to the
American Flag because it was flown for the first time on August 3, 1777,
at Fort Stanwix, in the present-day City of Rome; and "Old Glory" was
first flown "under fire" three days later, on August 6, 1777, at the
Battle of Oriskany; that battle being a decisive victory for the
American Revolutionaries, stopping the British occupation of the New
York Colony in an attempt to divide the Union; and

WHEREAS, The American Flag has had many charming legends attached to
it over the years, including the story that the first flag was sewn by
Mrs. Betsy Ross in June, 1776, at the request of a committee composed
of George Washington, Robert Morris and George Ross; this story was
first made public in 1870, by a grandson of Mrs. Ross; in addition, it
is reputed that the flag was designed by Francis Hopkinson, but when he
attempted to have Congress remunerate him for his services in 1781, they
refused; and, it is also said that the flag was first called "Old Glory"
by William Driver, a sea captain from Salem, Massachusetts, who raised
the flag on his brig, the "Charles Doggett", in 1824; and

WHEREAS, Wherever and whenever it is displayed, the first
requirement for flying the flag is that it be flown with respect; it
should only be flown in good weather, on all holidays and special
occasions, and on official buildings such as schools when they are in
session, post offices, courthouses and the like; it should generally be
flown from sunrise to sunset and at full staff; if it is displayed at
night, it should be properly illuminated; and, on Memorial Day it should
be flown at half staff until noon and then at full staff; and

WHEREAS, The flag of the United States has inspired us in battle,
reassured us in times of peace, and comforted us at moments of great
national grief; and

WHEREAS, Flag Day was first celebrated in 1877, the centennial of
the U.S. flag's existence; and

WHEREAS, Flag Day was officially established by a proclamation of
President Woodrow Wilson on May 30, 1916; while Flag Day was celebrated
in various communities after Wilson's proclamation, it was not until
August 3, 1949, that President Harry S. Truman signed an Act of Congress
designating June 14th each year as Flag Day; and

WHEREAS, In the words of President Wilson, "This flag which we honor
and under which we serve, is the emblem of our unity, our power, our
thought, and purpose as a nation. It has no other character than that
which we give it from generation to generation. The choices are ours.";
now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
joyously commemorate Flag Day, June 14, 2017, fully confident that such
commemoration clearly illustrates the eminence and importance of the
American Flag.