英语课程计划-Flag Day（在线收听）

Flag Day is celebrated in the United States on June 14. It commemorates the birth of the country’s flag on June 14, 1777. It was not until 1916 that President Woodrow Wilson recommended a day for all Americans to celebrate their flag. His recommendation was passed into law by an Act of Congress in 1949. Flag Day is not, however, an official federal holiday. The state of Pennsylvania is the only U.S. state to celebrate the day as a state holiday. The U.S. President does have the power to tell other states to observe the day. The President also asks citizens to fly the American flag from their houses for a week. There are Flag Day parades all across America. The largest one is in the town of Troy, New York. This attracts up to 50,000 spectators.

The flag of the United States is one of the most recognized symbols in the world. It consists of thirteen horizontal red and white stripes. There is a blue rectangle, with fifty small, white stars, in the top left corner. The thirteen stripes represent the thirteen former British colonies that rebelled against Britain and led to independence. The fifty stars represent the fifty U.S. states. The current flag has been around since 1959, which is when Hawaii, state number 50, joined the United States. There are several nicknames for the flag, including the Stars and Stripes, Old Glory, and The Star-Spangled Banner. Most Americans are extremely proud of their flag and all it represents. It arouses complex feelings in different people around the world.