A celebration of Flag Day...

Today is Flag Day, a national observance of the date in 1777 when the Continental Congress approved the first United States flag. After Tennessee became a state in 1796, there was no formal action at the federal level to add another star to the flag. However, many people took it upon themselves to update their flags with more stars as more states joined the Union during that era. The updated U.S. flag approved in 1818 did recognize Tennessee with its own star.

Although Flag Day has been celebrated in some parts of the country dating back at least to the late 1800s, it didn't become an official holiday until President Harry Truman signed it into law in 1949. This week is also National Flag Week, a time when citizens are urged to fly their flags for the duration of the week.

The Tennessee State Library and Archives would like to take this opportunity to celebrate with the nation by sharing this image from our "Looking Back at Tennessee" collection. This photo shows several children posed in front of an American flag on June 3, 1923:

"Looking Back At Tennessee," Tennessee State Library and Archives.

The State Library and Archives is a division of the Tennessee Department of State and Tre Hargett, Secretary of State.