June 14 is Flag Day, which commemorates the adoption of the flag of the United States in 1777. Our nation"s first official flag had 13 stars and 13 red and white stripes to represent the original 13 colonies that broke from British rule. The stars were arranged on a blue background to represent a "new constellation." In 1795, two more stars and two stripes were added to reflect the entry of Vermont and Kentucky to the Union. Then in 1818, Congress passed a plan to go back to 13 stripes and add only stars for new states. The current version of the flag has been in effect since 1960, after Hawaii became a state the prior year. The flags we"re looking at here are flying in New Jersey"s Liberty State Park, with the Statue of Liberty in the background.
Celebrating Flag Day
Today in History
More Desktop Wallpapers:
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Everest s shadow on the Himalayas
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A traboule in Lyon, France
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Agüero, Huesca province, Spain
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A duckling swimming in a water meadow, Suffolk, England
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Groovy!
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Is that a smile?
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Frozen fun in the Canadian cold
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Dog days of summer
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Salzburg, Austria
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Does it swim in slow motion too?
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Independence Day
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Bangkok, Thailand
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The Children’s Cultural Festival in Reykjavik begins today
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World Art Day
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Wadden Sea coast, Friesland, Netherlands
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The forecast calls for blooms
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Dubrovnik, Croatia
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First day of autumn
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On the wings of the Wright brothers
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Ad-Deir, Petra, Jordan
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Happy New Years Eve!
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Birthplace of Roman emperors
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Grand Canyon National Park turns 105
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Great Backyard Bird Count
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Travel Sunday: On the Ganges in Varanasi, India
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Welcome to the Alien Egg Hatchery
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Fly me to the moon
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The Easter Bunny’s story
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National Park Week: Canyonlands National Park, Utah
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Freeze frame
Bing Wallpaper Gallery


