Flag Day is Saturday, June 14 – a national (though not official) holiday likely few are familiar with. According to federal law, it's up to the president to officially proclaim the observance.
Flag Day commemorates the day – June 14, 1777 -- when the Continental Congress determined the composition of the nation’s banner, according to an article by PBS News.
Tony Grigg knows flags. He owns Ozark Flag Distributors in Springfield, a business that’s been around for 75 years – he’s the third owner.
"Of course, we do all manner of flags, U.S. being the most popular, but, you know, state, religious, international, custom flags," he said. "We do so many of brands — local brands and national brands, custom flags, you know, so that — and then flagpoles. Probably just as much as we do in flags, we do in flagpoles."
The company, with seven employees, sells products to customers all over the country. Grigg is happy to be right here in southwest Missouri.
"I can tell you that this area is extremely patriotic," Grigg said, "probably one of the most patriotic places I've ever been in the nation, and I've lived in several places in this country and traveled to many as well."
The U.S. flag, he said, is a symbol of all this country stands for: "freedom, unity, patriotism, to name a few, and I think if you ask any individual on the street, everybody has their own idea of that. And why can't we all share in that under one banner right now?"
So if you see a U.S. flag Saturday, you might take a moment to pause and think about what it means to you.
If you’d like to celebrate Flag Day, Greene County will host its annual Flag Day Celebration Friday morning, June 13, at 10 in the rotunda of the historic courthouse at Central and Boonville. It will include a presentation by the Ozark Mountain Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution, a musical performance by the Courthouse Chorale and a proclamation presented by the county commission.
