Every year on June 14th the Rotary Club of Boerne (Noontime) raises funds by putting up flags in front of participating businesses in downtown Boerne. We do this to celebrate Flag Day on June 14 as well as on Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and other patriotic holidays. But who really knows much about Flag Day?
Initially the colonists fighting the British for American Independence used a variety of flags. Then in June of 1775 Congress created the Continental Army which led to the creation of the first “American” flag. However this flag looked a bit too similar to the British Union Jack and George Washington was concerned that it was not a “confidence- builder” for his troops. He began to promote the idea of a more distinctive looking American flag.
 
On June 14, 1777 the Continental Congress took a break from crafting the Articles of Confederation to pass a resolution stating the flag of the United States be 13 stripes, alternate red and white and that the union be 13 stars, white in a blue field “representing a new constellation of this fledging nation”.
 
In 1916 President Woodrow Wilson marked the anniversary of that decree by establishing a day honoring the flag on June 14th. And Rotarians in Boerne carry on this tradition to honor not only the flag of the United States, but the many men and women of our military who put action to the Rotarian motto of “Service Above Self”.