Governor Bob McDonnell issued the
following statement today in recognition of June 14 as Flag Day, and as the
236th anniversary of the founding of the U.S. Army. The governor has also
issued a proclamation for the U.S. Army anniversary, which can be found at http://governor.virginia.gov/OurCommonwealth/Proclamations/2011/236thBirthday.cfm.
“When the Second
Continental Congress adopted the stars and stripes banner designed by Betsy Ross
as our young nation’s flag in 1777, it provided an enduring symbol representing
the ideals upon which our nation was born. While our founding fathers dreamed
of a country built on liberty, personal freedom, and opportunity for all of its
citizens, surely even they could not envision the world leader and bastion of
hope that the United States flag has evolved to
represent today.
“President Woodrow Wilson
first formally established a day to recognize the adoption of our nation’s flag
in 1916 when soldiers from around the globe were battling tyranny in a conflict
that would become known as World War I. Today, our flag flies above soldiers in
Afghanistan, Iraq, and throughout the
world who are fighting to protect those same freedoms from agents of tyranny,
oppression and evil.
“June 14 is also the
236th anniversary of when Congress adopted ‘the American continental army,’ America’s first standing
military organization. As our soldiers celebrate the Army’s birthday on bases
at home and abroad and as Americans fly their U.S. flags around the globe
in recognition of their patriotism, let us pause and reflect on the ideals our
flag represents, and thank those past and present who have sacrificed to
protect the freedoms for which it stands.”
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