LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating June 14, 2011 as Flag Day, and June
22, 2011 as the 69th Anniversary of the official recognition of the
Pledge of Allegiance

WHEREAS, The American Flag, symbol of the Republic for 235 years, has
undergone many changes over its history; the current 50-star version was
raised for the first time officially at 12:01 a.m., July 4, 1960, at
Fort McHenry National Monument in Baltimore, Maryland, heralding the
admission of our 50th state, Hawaii; and
WHEREAS, The first flag raised in North America was hoisted by John
Cabot in 1497; it flew the banners of England and St. Mark; as settlers
populated the colonies, each territory adopted its own flag so that by
1707, each colony had its own flag, the forerunners of the individual
state flags of today; and
WHEREAS, The first colonial flag to represent all the colonies is
believed to have been raised on Prospect Hill in Boston at the Battle of
Bunker Hill; this flag, "the Continental Colors" or "the Great Union
flag," bore the cross of the British flag in the upper left corner with
13 alternating red and white stripes extending horizontally; and
WHEREAS, The "Stars and Stripes" originated as the result of a resol-
ution offered by the Marine Committee of the second Continental Congress
at Philadelphia, and adopted on June 14, 1777; it read as follows:
"Resolved: that the flag of the United States be thirteen stripes,
alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a
blue field, representing a new constellation"; and
WHEREAS, The Great State of New York has a unique connection to the
American Flag because it was flown for the first time on August 3, 1777,
at Fort Stanwix, in the present-day City of Rome; and "Old Glory" was
first flown "under fire" three days later, on August 6, 1777, at the
Battle of Oriskany; that battle being a decisive victory for the Ameri-
can Revolutionaries, stopping the British occupation of the New York
Colony in an attempt to divide the Union; and
WHEREAS, The flag of 1777 was used until 1795, when Vermont and
Kentucky sought admission to the Union; at that time, Congress passed,
and President Washington signed, an act that after May 1, 1795, the flag
should have 15 stripes, alternate red and white, and 15 white stars on a
blue field as the Union; and
WHEREAS, When in 1818, five new states were admitted to the Union, it
became evident that the flag would become burdened with stripes, so
Congress thereupon ordered that after July 4, 1818, the flag should have
13 stripes, symbolizing the 13 original states, that the Union have 20
stars, and that whenever a new state was admitted a new star would be
added on the July 4th following admission; and
WHEREAS, No star is specifically identified with any state and no law
designates the permanent arrangement of the stars; however, since 1912,
when a new state has been admitted, the new design has been announced by
executive order; the longest period during which the flag remained
unchanged was for a 47-year period from 1912, when New Mexico and Arizo-
na were admitted, to 1959, when Alaska was admitted; and
WHEREAS, The American flag has had many charming legends attached to
it over the years, including the story that the first flag was sewn by
Mrs. Betsy Ross in June, 1776, at the request of a committee composed
of George Washington, Robert Morris and George Ross; this story was
first made public in 1870, by a grandson of Mrs. Ross; in addition, it
is reputed that the flag was designed by Francis Hopkinson, but when he
attempted to have Congress remunerate him for his services in 1781, they
refused; and, it is also said that the flag was first called "Old Glory"

by William Driver, a sea captain from Salem, Massachusetts, who raised
the flag on his brig, the "Charles Doggett", in 1824; and
WHEREAS, Wherever and whenever it is displayed, the first requirement
for flying the flag is that it be flown with respect; it should only be
flown in good weather, on all holidays and special occasions, and on
official buildings such as schools when they are in session, post
offices, courthouses and the like; it should generally be flown from
sunrise to sunset and at full staff; if it is displayed at night, it
should be properly illuminated; and, on Memorial Day it should be flown
at half staff until noon and then at full staff; and
WHEREAS, The flag of the United States has inspired us in battle,
reassured us in times of peace, and comforted us at moments of great
national grief; and
WHEREAS, Flag Day was first celebrated in 1877, the centennial of the
U.S. flag's existence; and
WHEREAS, Flag Day was officially established by a proclamation of
President Woodrow Wilson on May 30, 1916; while Flag Day was celebrated
in various communities after Wilson's proclamation, it was not until
August 3, 1949, that President Harry S Truman signed an Act of Congress
designating June 14th each year as Flag Day; and
WHEREAS, In the words of President Wilson, "This flag which we honor
and under which we serve, is the emblem of our unity, our power, our
thought, and purpose as a nation. It has no other character than that
which we give it from generation to generation. The choices are ours.";
and
WHEREAS, The Pledge of Allegiance, written by Francis Bellamy in 1892,
received official recognition by the United States Congress on June 22,
1942, when it was included in the United States Flag Code and was last
amended on June 14, 1954; and
WHEREAS, Francis Bellamy is a native-son of New York being born in the
Town of Mount Morris in 1855; and being that he was entombed at Rome
cemetery in the City of Rome in 1931, with the words of the Pledge of
Allegiance inscribed prominently on his grave marker; and
WHEREAS, The words of the Pledge of Allegiance, recognized in the
hearts of Americans throughout this vast nation, are recited, "I pledge
allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America and to the Repub-
lic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty
and justice for all."; and
WHEREAS, These words express our dedication to the ideals of liberty
and justice for all and remind us that every glory we associate with the
Flag is the result of duty done; and
WHEREAS, These words serve to express our gratitude to the generations
past and present who have fought and died for this country and to recall
our obligation to preserve the freedom others have by their sacrifice
won for us; and
WHEREAS, The Members of the New York State Assembly begin each legis-
lative session by reciting the Pledge of Allegiance; now, therefore, be
it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
joyously commemorate Flag Day, June 14, 2011, fully confident that such
commemoration clearly illustrates the eminence and importance of the
American Flag to this Body; and be it further
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
reaffirm our commitment to the ideals of freedom, liberty and justice
embodied by the United States Flag and expressed in the Pledge of Alle-
giance; and be it further

RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the American Legion Department of New York, and the Veterans
of Foreign Wars Department of New York.