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In the United States, June 14th is Flag Day. It commemorates the original adoption of the U.S. flag back in 1777 by the Second Continental Congress. It was President Woodrow Wilson's 1916 proclamation that would solidify June 14th as National Flag Day, but it wasn't until 1949 that congress enacted its actual observance. While not an official federal holiday, one state, Pennsylvania, celebrates Flag Day as a state holiday. And Troy, NY, home of Uncle Sam, hosts the county's largest Flag Day Parade, typically drawing 50,000 revelers each year.
Because the 14th seldom falls on a weekend, the National Flag Day Foundation holds an annual observance for Flag Day on the second Sunday in June. The festivities include a ceremonial flag raising, Pledge of Allegiance recital, singing of the National Anthem ("The Star-spangled Banner"), and a parade. Later, during the last week of June, National Flag Week sees the president issuing a proclamation urging U.S. citizens to fly the American flag for the duration of that week.
On a global level, every country has a flag, and most countries honor their flag with a Flag Day. Typically, a Flag Day is a day designated for flying a national flag, or a day set aside to celebrate a historical event such as a nation's adoption of its flag. Flag Day customs and celebrations range from merely suggesting citizens fly the national flag on a particular day to requiring governmental offices to fly the flag half-staff. Flag Days, depending on the country, are generally 'codified' in decrees by heads of state, or in written statutes.