The flag we share and the messages we send

Flag Day on June 14th is a celebration of the Stars and Stripes, the enduring symbol of a nation founded on the idea that people from different backgrounds, beliefs, and circumstances can come together as one people. It is also an opportunity to reflect on whether we are still living up to that promise.

The traditional American motto, E Pluribus Unum — “Out of many, one” — captures the genius of our republic. It was suggested to the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, the same day as the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Francis Hopkinson, a Declaration signer from Pennsylvania, led the idea of the stars and stripes and designed the flag as a visual representation of our motto.