NATION'S SYMBOL CELEBRATES ITS BIRTHDAY ON FRIDAY

It's a national symbol that almost anyone can recognize -- the flag. Across the country, Americans will fly their national symbol high Friday in honor of Flag Day.

While not a federal holiday, June 14, is a national holiday to celebrate the memory of the day when the Continental Congress adopted the Stars and Stripes as the official flag. The holiday was signed into law by President Harry S. Truman in 1949.

However, honoring the American flag has a much longer history, almost 220 years. But it has been shown little respect in recent years, said Herb Nance, a former commander of the American Legion.

"What I notice is the disrespect," he said, adding that proper respect isn't taught in schools. "The young people aren't learning enough in school."

The flag can be flown at almost any location if done properly. The flag should be flown from sunrise to sunset on stationary flagstaffs and can be flown 24 hours a day if properly illuminated.

But many flags Nance sees are in bad shape. "They'd be better off not flying it if it's torn," he said. "It was different in the war when that's all you could get a hold of. They put it up and just forget about it."

And that's exactly what happened at Cape Rock Park before Ron Wilson started his cleanup efforts. Wilson and Nance, both members of the American Legion, installed a flagpole, planted roses and other flowers to help clean up the park overlooking the Mississippi River. Wilson, who doesn't want credit or publicity for the project, says he's just satisfied with completing his task.

Once a flag has been torn, faded or stained, it should be destroyed, according to the U.S. Code. Many flags are either burned or buried.

The American Legion will hold its annual flag retirement ceremony at 6 p.m. Friday at the Missouri Veterans Home. Flags that are worn will be destroyed in accordance with the code.

Before government leaders decided on the proper disposal of flags, they chose its design. The Stars and Stripes design was selected by the Continental Congress on June 14, 1777.

Yet no one is really sure who created the design. Legend says it was Betsy Ross, but historians say it was more likely Francis Hopkinson, a congressional delegate.

The design of 13 stripes in alternate red and white and a blue field of stars represents the land, the people, the government and the ideals of the United States. The stripes symbolizes the 13 colonies while each star symbolizes a state.

In the U.S. design, red was chosen for hardiness and courage, blue for vigilance, perseverance and justice and white for purity and innocence.

The Continental Congress never said why it chose red, white and blue as colors for the flag, but the combination tops the list of common colors. Other popular flag colors are green, yellow, black and orange.