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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Float on
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Martinique
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Design for Each and All
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Prague, Czech Republic
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Gulf Islands National Seashore, Florida
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Womens History Month
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Back on the rise
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Native American Heritage Month
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International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival, Harbin, China
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Land ho in New Zealand 250 years ago
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International Day of Friendship
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Wat Sri Sawai in Sukhothai Historical Park, Thailand
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The Lena Delta Wildlife Reserve in Siberia, Russia
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National Roller Coaster Day
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The story of a rediscovered redwood
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Mountain goats
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Spectacular views below!
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Feel the spray in Monterey
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Happy Mother s Day
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A walk among the giants
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Penguin Awareness Day
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International Womens Day
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Looking back at Yellowstone, 30 years after the fires
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And the skies filled with bats…
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Sandhill cranes, Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge
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Did it see its shadow?
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National Go Birding Day
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Fall for Chile
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Sailing on thick ice
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World Childrens Day
Bing Wallpaper Gallery

