Photograph of Flag Raising on Iwo Jima, 02/23/1945

In August 1949, President Harry S. Truman proclaimed June 14 as Flag Day. Since then the President proclaims the commemoration yearly, and encourages all Americans in the country to display the Stars and Stripes outside their homes and businesses.

Individual states determine how they will observe the day. In Pennsylvania and American Samoa it is a public holiday.

Usually the flag is flown from all public buildings, speeches are made in public places and ceremonies take place in towns or cities.