Today—June 10—has been designated as Iced Tea Day, tomorrow is National Corn on the Cob Day and Friday is Red Rose Day.  These are silly.  However, Sunday is Flag Day, and it is definitely not something to joke about. On Flag Day Americans are urged to honor their country’s flag.  Members of the U.S. Army, reservists, and former Army branches will also celebrate the founding of these sectors of the U.S. Armed Forces on June 14.  Our country’s flag represents the freedom which we as Americans enjoy.  Flag Day is a time for Americans to reaffirm their loyalty which guarantees this freedom, and make a renewed commitment to the nation as a whole as opposed to any segment of the nation such as the Old South.  Most southerners reject calls for any kind of noveau-secession movement as represented by the Neo-Confederates.

One would expect to see on Flag Day a wider display of the American Flag not only on public buildings but at homes as well.  Other activities characterizing Flag Day may include flag raising ceremonies, essay competitions among summer school students about what the American flag means to them, and parades which display Old Glory.

President Obama has issued a proclamation which calls on federal government offices to display the Flag on Flag Day—June 14—the day on which the U.S. Flag was officially adopted in 1777 by the Continental Congress.

July 19, 1890—-Today has been a great day in Hartselle. Governor Jones and Col. R. W. Beck received a grand ovation.  There was a large and enthusiastic crowd present.  Hartselle was decorated with flags and bunting and the Hartselle brass band furnished music for the occasion.  Hon. Samuel Blackwell presided over the festivities.

June 14, 1914–Mrs. J. A. Rountree, wife of the Enquirer founding editor, has written a poem which she recited today, Flag Day.  Its lines include:  “The Stars and Strips are an emblem there,/of a flag that will never fade,/That one that is brighter every year,/The best flag ever made.”

June 3, 1917–So far as Hartselle and this section of the state is concerned, no trouble is anticipated here on draft registration day, June 5.  The people here are loyal to the government and to the flag and all of them are willing to do all within their power to win the war. A number of citizens of Hartselle who are away from home have already sent in their registrations to Sheriff James A. Foreman.

June 23, 1918–In honor of 20 young men of the Sunday school who are in France and in training camps helping to win human liberty for the world, the 11 o’clock hour was given to unveiling and presenting a silken flag with 20 stars at the Methodist church this morning.  After the choir sang “Onward, Christian Soldiers,” Miss Corinne Doss unveiled the handsome flag, which was presented by John L. Foote in a patriotic speech.  A  program followed, which consisted of a solo by Mrs. Robert Grady Sherrill, “Keep the Home Fires Burning”; “When the Boys Come Home” by C. D. Carter, and “America” and “The Star Spangled Banner” by the entire choir.

 May 13, 1945–An unusual service, dedicated to the memory of its men lost in service, and honoring also the mothers and wives of men in the armed forces, was held at the Methodist Church at 11 a.m., today. Three gold stars on the church’s service flag represented John Huse, R. Q. Rollins, and Hubert Betterton, all members of the Air Corps who have been lost in action.  George Duncan McCall, reported as “missing” for twenty-two months was still represented by a blue star on the service flag.

June 20, 1956—Hartselle’s pride today is a modern $120,000 municipal auditorium housing city offices, which was officially dedicated yesterday. Hartselle’s Mayor John Burleson officiated at the opening of the dedicatory ceremonies, which featured a flag-raising by the American Legion and a cornerstone laying by the Masons.