Conversations in Management
That
history includes the story of Bernard Cigrand. Cigrand
was the sixth son of a couple who had migrated from Luxembourg
in 1852. They were among the first arrivals from that tiny
country but certainly not the last. By 1916, when Wilson made
his remarks, nearly 25 percent of the country had migrated to
the United States. While they retained a fondness for the old
country, Luxembourgians became enthusiastic Americans and
instilled that pride in their children. It was a reflection of
that pride that led 19 year-old school teacher Bernard Cigrand
to display a tiny American flag on his desk. With the school
year about to end, he asked the graduating class to write an
essay about what the flag meant to each of them. It was June 14,
1885 and the first observation of what came to be called Flag
Day.
Cigrand
hadn’t selected the date of the assignment casually. Unlike
many, he knew that the U.S. Senate had officially adopted the
Stars and Stripes as the national flag on June 14, 1777. Since
that time much had happened—the nation had won its independence
against long odds, an almost unimaginable territorial expansion
had taken place and a bloody civil war had been fought at a
tremendous cost of life. By the 1880’s, the country was on the
leading edge of industrialization and facing an explosion of new
immigration. In the flag, Cigrand saw a unifying symbol for
citizens and newcomers alike. He believed it was an expression
of what was best in the country. He felt it reflected pride in
America’s achievements and the hopeful promise of America’s
future. Firm in these beliefs, Cigrand began a life-long
campaign to have a “Flag Birthday” commemorated annually.
Something about Flag Day struck a chord with people throughout
the country. By 1894, over 300,000 Chicago school children
gathered in city parks to celebrate the day. Elsewhere, parades
were held; speeches made and Fourth of July-like festivities
were organized. In the years that followed, the most common
feature of every Flag Day was the distribution of miniature
American flags to every child in school—a tradition that
continued well into the twentieth century. After three decades
of promotion, Cigrand saw his vision become a reality when
President Wilson issued the first Flag Day proclamation in 1916.
Flag Day’s
fortunes have waned in recent years. Tucked between Memorial Day
and Independence Day, and unaccompanied by a day off, it’s
easily overlooked. What’s more, many schools have already closed
for the summer by the time Flag Day comes around and those that
are still in session don’t seem to have the zeal for teaching
civics that they once did. Though the day may have lost some of
the appeal it once had, you don’t have to look very far to find
the American flag proudly displayed. You’ll find it in all the
places you’d expect—public buildings, parks and schools—but
you’ll also find it displayed on car bumpers, emblazoned on
clothing and lazily waving in front of homes both opulent and
modest. It’s that personal connection to the flag that tells
America’s story best. It’s not sentimentalism or jingoism that
makes the flag important. It’s our history both as a people and
as individuals that gives it meaning. That history is one of
persistent striving—sometimes imperfectly— for liberty,
prosperity and opportunity. Our flag is a reminder that America
will be as good as we decide to make it and as good as we make
ourselves. Let’s go make history.
—Ebert
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