As a kid, I used to play a word association game with my mother. She would say a word, and I would tell her what popped into my mind. I found myself doing that several days ago as I drove past Wilcox Park in Lynnwood. It was triggered by seeing the beautiful scene of multiple US flags waving gently in the breeze on a bright sunny day.

Quite unexpectedly, I began thinking about the word ‘flag.’ Suddenly I had several associations cross my mind… flagship… flagpole… flagman.

Then, Flag Day popped into my mind. That set me to thinking.

I began to visualize and recall many of the places in Lynnwood where I see the American Flag on display regularly. Two car dealerships on Highway 99 have huge flags in front of their establishments. I recalled seeing a flag on display in front of several different schools and retirement homes. Then my mind flashed on the many homes in various Lynnwood neighborhoods who proudly display the flag year round.

As you might expect, there is one in front of the Lynnwood City Hall, the Fire Department and Civic Center. Did I mention the US Post Office? The more I thought about it, the longer the list grew.

You may be thinking, so what’s the big deal? Where are you going with all this flag stuff? Hang in there with me, please.

Did you realize that next week, June 12-18, is National Flag Week?  More specifically, Tuesday, June 14^th is National Flag Day. I would hazard a guess that most of us do not remember or even know that such a day has long been a part of our National Heritage.

Yes, June 14th is Flag Day… the day we celebrate the birthday of the Stars and Stripes. On June 14, 1777, during the Revolutionary War, the Continental Congress in Philadelphia adopted “Old Glory” as the official national flag with a minimum of words.

“Resolved that the thirteen United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the Union be thirteen stars, white on a blue field, representing a new constellation.”

Short and to the point. Congress gave no further instructions as to exactly what the flag should look like, such as dimensions, or how the stars should be arranged.  However, we know this much for certain. On June 14, 1777, the Continental Congress replaced the British Symbols of the Grand Union Flag with a new design.

Although it is not certain, the first flag was reportedly made by the Philadelphia seamstress Betsy Ross. She was an official flag maker for the Pennsylvania Navy. Over time, the number of stars increased as new states entered the Union, but the number of stripes were kept at thirteen.

Oddly enough, observance of the adoption of the flag was not soon in coming. Although there are many claims to the first official observance of Flag Day, all but one took place more than a hundred years after the flag’s adoption in 1777.

However, not until 1916 was Flag Day officially established by the proclamation of President Woodrow Wilson, and not until 1949 did President Truman sign an Act of Congress designating June 14^th of each year as National Flag Day.  However, it is important to note that although Flag Day is a nationwide observance, it is a legal holiday in only a few areas of the USA.

So the question arises: what are you and I to do this Flag Day?  What should be the approach of Lynnwood Citizens?

One option is for us to do nothing… to go on with our lives as though it is not being observed and not bother to think twice about it. Sadly, that will probably be the most common response. However, my hope is that this brief column might be cause for at least a few minutes of quiet reflection come next Tuesday.

There may not be any flag raising ceremonies, Flag Day services, school quizzes and essay  competition about the American flag, along with musical salutes, street parades and awards for special recognition.

Yet, there are things that most of us can do on Flag Day. They include:

• Display an American Flag at your home.
• Encourage your business or employer to do the same.
• Remember that Flag Day is the forerunner and foundation of all our Patriotic holidays.
• Realize our Flag is the symbol of our country’s enduring ideals – liberty, justice and unity.
• Reaffirm your loyalty to our nation.
• Remind yourself that in 21 days, we will again be celebrating our 240^th anniversary as an independent nation.
• Recite the Pledge of Allegiance under your breath.
• Quietly sing the National Anthem as you go about your tasks.
• Be grateful that you are a citizen living in the land of the free and home of the brave.

If none of the above turns your crank, I would invite you to join me in singing a stanza of Lee Greenwood’s song from God Bless the USA . . .

                        If tomorrow all I had was gone,

                        All I’d hope to see

                        And I had to start again

                        With just my friends and family

                        I’d thank my lucky stars,

                        To be livin’ here today.

                        Cause the flag still stands for freedom,

                        And they can’t take that away.

Happy Birthday – Old Glory!!

–By Loren Simmonds

Loren Simmonds has been a resident of Lynnwood for 35 years. He served on the City Council for 16 years. Loren works as a consultant, writer, speaker and trainer. He is currently a member of the Lynnwood Parks and Recreation Foundation.