100th Anniversary

Did you know that this Tuesday was the 100th anniversary of Flag Day? On June 14, 1916 President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation, making the day a national observance. And on August 3, 1949, President Harry Truman signed an Act of Congress making it official.

And none of it would have happened without the petition of a dentist from Batavia, Illinois, our new hometown. Dr. Bernard J. Cigrand was the son of immigrants and a teacher of American history. He considered June 14th to be the flag's birthday, as this was the day that the newly formed Congress had adopted the Stars and Stripes as a symbol of these United States of America. He thought it was such a momentous occasion that it should be celebrated every year. And so Dr. Cigrand petitioned the President, and two years later it was official.

We celebrated the 100th anniversary in Batavia this year, with flags proudly waving everywhere. Even Humpty Dumpty at our local library was holding his flag high!

I thought I'd show you a few photos of Batavia today. I took these on a recent night out with my husband. We ate along the river and strolled along the boardwalk downtown on this perfect evening.

It's a good place to be.

Happy birthday to our flag. Long may she wave!