History Lessons

Fourth of July flag flew at sea in 1944

Front page of the Buccaneer, dated July 4, 1944.

For 240 years, the Fourth of July, which marks the debut of the Declaration of Independence in 1776, has been a special day for American flags. On that date in 1944, as World War II continued to rage, a newspaper printed aboard the USS Essex published an editorial titled “Independence Day 1944.” Read in the… continue

Flag Information

Flags save lives on beaches

Common beach flags.

With summer here, many families are hurrying to the beach. To make sure they bring everything they need, they might compose a checklist: swimming suits, picnic items and beach toys. But the most essential item is a list of beach warning flags. Around the world, beaches post flags of different colors to alert swimmers to… continue

History Lessons

Cathedral set to remove flag windows

A closeup of one of the panes

Last week, a famous church made a decision about an infamous flag. The Washington National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., is finally beginning the process of removing two images of the Confederate battle flag that appear in a large, stained-glass window. A year ago, the Very Rev. Gary Hall, then dean of the Episcopal church, issued… continue

History Lessons

Significant flags to think about on Flag Day

President Wilson on Flag Day. (Library of Congress)

The nation, one of its states and a branch of the military are marking special flag anniversaries this month. FLAG DAY One hundred years ago, as the U.S. grew nearer to entering World War I, President Woodrow Wilson officially established June 14 as Flag Day. “Many circumstances have recently conspired,” he wrote in 1916, “to… continue