Recognizing that Flag Day originated in Ozaukee County, Wisconsin.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 662) recognizing that Flag Day originated in Ozaukee County, Wisconsin.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on House Resolution 662 currently under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor that I rise in support of this resolution recognizing Flag Day, which is celebrated each year on this day, June 14.

The American flag is the symbol of hope, freedom, and unity. The flag symbolizes the resolve of our country and demonstrates our ability to overcome adversity. As we encounter new challenges, we are reminded of the men and women who have fought to defend and preserve the values that the flag represents. These men and women serve as a testament to our great Nation. They made their sacrifice because of their belief in our country and the values we hold so dear. There is no greater symbol of that sacrifice than the American flag.

Flag Day originated in 1885 with a school teacher named Bernard John Cigrand in Ozaukee County, Wisconsin. Cigrand, inspired by love for his adopted country, placed a 38-star flag in the inkwell of his classroom and instructed his students at Stony Hill School to write essays on what the flag meant to them. Cigrand's enthusiasm for the flag sparked the interest of his students, but it did not stop there. Cigrand also spent numerous hours writing to magazines and newspapers emphasizing the good that would come out of a holiday celebrating the flag. Without his hard work and dedication, Flag Day would not exist. For his efforts, Cigrand was cited by President Bush in his 2001 Flag Day proclamation as one of the first to push for a national celebration for the flag.

Although it began in a small, one-room schoolhouse in Wisconsin, Flag Day gained popularity in 1889 when George Balch, a schoolteacher in New York City, organized activities celebrating the American flag. It was later adopted by the State Board of Education in New York. The Flag Day celebrations expanded to Philadelphia where it was celebrated by the Betsy Ross House in 1891. The following year, the New York Society of Sons celebrated Flag Day.

Although pockets of the country celebrated Flag Day, it did not become an official holiday until 1916 when it was officially established by the proclamation of President Woodrow Wilson. Even though Flag Day was celebrated nationally after this proclamation, it was not until August 3, 1949, that President Truman signed an act of Congress which officially designated June 14 as National Flag Day.

One of the many important events honoring the American flag occurs each year right where Flag Day began. People from all over Wisconsin turn out to raise their flags and celebrate this day. Individuals line the streets in Waubeka to watch parades that feature marching and dancing bands. Different versions of the flag are on display, including a 30-star flag which symbolizes the addition of Wisconsin to the Union. There is no other place in the country where people more enthusiastically celebrate the American flag than Waubeka, Wisconsin.

Today, as people across the country raise their American flags to celebrate the resolve of our great Nation, I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating National Flag Day and recognizing Ozaukee County, Wisconsin, as the birth of Flag Day.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Green).

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, I urge the adoption of the resolution, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate Flag Day, June 14.

Flag Day has a particularly special meaning this year, as many of our troops are serving overseas as part of the global war against terrorism. I stand behind our brave men and women who have performed admirably in Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere around the globe. They have made tremendous sacrifices on behalf of their country and have served longer deployments than expected.

The Flag of the United States continues to stand for democracy and freedom throughout the world. The Continental Congress approved the design of a national flag 227 years ago today. The American flag, in its current form, first flew over the Capitol in 1818. The flag has been altered twenty-seven times over the years. The current version dates to July 4, 1960, when Hawaii became the 50th state.

Our flag symbolizes the union between the states and federal government, as we the people of the United States seek to form a more perfect union, as envisioned in our Constitution. Since 1916, when President Woodrow Wilson issued a presidential proclamation declaring June 14 Flag Day, Americans have

commemorated the adoption of the Stars and Stripes by celebrating this special day in our Nation's history.

Flag Day also holds a special place in the history of Baltimore, Maryland, which I am privileged to represent in the House of Representatives. In 1814 in Baltimore at Fort McHenry, this Nation, this young Nation, won its second war of independence. It was the beginning of the end of the War of 1812. Francis Scott Key 190 years ago wrote his inspirational poem that became our National Anthem.

As we continue our global war on terrorism, and face a continuing threat on our shores, Francis Scott Key wrote some words that are helpful for us on this Flag Day:

``From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave.

And the Star-Spangled Banner in triumph doth wave.''

We survived the attack by a hostile power and became the strongest Nation in the world, and we will survive this attack on our democratic principles, and we will grow even stronger. Let us remember on this Flag Day the values we hold dear, and that we are willing to fight for--and even die for--these values of liberty, democracy and justice. Our flag will continue to symbolize this eternal struggle, as we seek to secure the blessings of liberty for our fellow Americans and for all humankind.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the resolution offered by the distinguished chairman of the Committee on the Judiciary.

The gentleman's resolution recognizes the efforts of Bernard John Cigrand, a schoolteacher from Waubeka, Wisconsin, who, in 1885, urged his students to observe June 14 as Flag Birthday.

That effort, at a time when the flag had only 38 stars, developed into Flag Day, which President Truman signed into law on August 3, 1949.

As we observe Flag Day, and we consider this resolution, I hope all Americans would, as the resolution urges, reflect on the values that the flag represents: the rights of all Americans under the law to free speech, free press, and freedom of assembly; religious liberty; the right to face their accusers in court; to be secure in their homes and papers; to be free from cruel and unusual punishment; and the right to due process of law.

It is those values and this Nation which fought to protect these rights, that make the flag such a potent symbol. I hope that as we celebrate Flag Day, Mr. Speaker, we will all take time to celebrate what the flag represents.

I thank the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Sensenbrenner), the chairman of the Committee on the Judiciary, for bringing this resolution forward; and I urge my colleagues to support it.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time, and I thank him also for being such a strong advocate for protecting the flag and our heritage.

Mr. Speaker, today we observe Flag Day, a day, as previous speakers have indicated, we commemorate the adoption of our flag on June 14, 1777. This past weekend, I walked in the Flag Day parade in Appleton, Wisconsin, and to this unbiased observer, the largest and grandest such celebration in America. We celebrated the Stars and Stripes. It was red, white and blue as far as the eye could see, and on display were the patriotism and pride that those colors evoke in every American heart. We celebrated because this flag remained standing as we fought for our independence, fought to remain one Nation, as we fought the great wars of liberty; and it remains standing proudly as we continue to fight for freedom today. No matter the era, no matter the challenge, this symbol of our great Nation and our values is there, proud and free, for all the world to see.

As a Wisconsinite, I am proud to say that it was a schoolteacher from Wisconsin who began this celebration. How appropriate. Today is a day on which we should take a minute to stop, to look at our grand old flag, and to reflect upon what it means. We should also reflect upon the sacrifice that so many have made in so many lands far away to ensure that Old Glory will fly free and proud for generations to come.

Mr. Speaker, today, June 14, we celebrate Flag Day--a special time for all Americans to reflect upon, the important symbolism for which ``Old Glory'' stands.

Whenever we see our Nation's flag, we are reminded of what it stands for--the freedom to speak, worship, and believe as we choose.

On this particular Flag Day, I stand in honor of all our soldiers who are carrying out the real meaning of our flag in Iraq, in Afghanistan, in South Korea, in Haiti and in Asia.

The pledge to the flag is a spoken commitment to all that we as Americans hold dear: ``I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. One nation, under God, with freedom and justice for all!''

It is a promise of hope, not only to us, but to the world. It should never be said lightly, nor be disparaged.

We have a lot to be proud of in this country and the flag symbolizes to us and the world what is best about America.

It speaks of tolerance, compassion, diversity, unity, and mutual respect. It is a reflection of the totality of America.

As we honor the red, white, and blue today, we should all recognize how lucky we are to be citizens of the country that the Stars and Stripes represents.