**Flag Day in 2026 is Sunday, June 14.** ### Key Facts - **Date:** June 14, 2026 (always observed on this date). - **Significance:** Marks 249 years since the Continental Congress adopted the Stars and Stripes on June 14, 1777. - **Status:** Not a federal holiday—banks, mail, and most businesses operate normally. Pennsylvania is the only state that treats it as a legal state holiday. ### How It’s Celebrated in 2026 1. **National Pause for the Pledge** – At 7 p.m. ET, Americans nationwide are encouraged to stop and recite the Pledge of Allegiance together. 2. **Flag Retirement Ceremonies** – Many American Legion, VFW, and community posts hold respectful flag-burning ceremonies for worn flags. Examples include events in Fontana, CA; Canton, GA; Martinsville, IN; and Appleton, WI. 3. **Parades & Community Events** – The 75th annual Appleton Flag Day Parade (WI) on June 13 is themed “Stars, Stripes, and New Beginnings.” Quincy, MA, and Troy, NY, also host major parades. 4. **Educational Activities** – Schools and civic groups often teach the flag’s history, proper etiquette, and the meaning of the colors (red = valor, white = purity, blue = vigilance). 5. **Displaying the Flag** – Americans are encouraged to fly the flag from sunrise to sunset (or illuminated at night), following the U.S. Flag Code (e.g., never let it touch the ground, replace worn flags). ### Historical Context - **1885:** Bernard Cigrand held the first recognized Flag Day celebration in Wisconsin. - **1916:** President Wilson issued a proclamation establishing June 14 as Flag Day. - **1949:** Congress passed the National Flag Day Act, signed by President Truman. ### What’s Special About 2026 - It falls on a Sunday, allowing for full-day observance without work/school conflicts. - It kicks off the summer-long Semiquincentennial (250th anniversary) celebrations leading up to July 4, 2026. ### Sources - ShareAmerica article on the Stars and Stripes - White House proclamation for Flag Day and National Flag Week, 2026 - American Legion news on Flag Day events nationwide - AARR guide on Flag Day 2026 history and etiquette **Note:** While Flag Day is not a federal holiday, it is widely observed across the country with ceremonies, parades, and patriotic displays.