Did you know that today is Flag Day? Flag Day commemorates the official adoption of the flag by the Second Continental Congress in 1777. In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation that officially established June 14 as Flag Day; in August 1949, National Flag Day was established by an Act of Congress.

In 1814, at Fort McHenry in Maryland, a flag flying there inspired Francis Scott Key to write a poem “Defence of Fort McHenry” which was later set to music and renamed “The Star-Spangled Banner.” By Congressional resolution, "The Star Spangled Banner" became the national athem in 1931.

• The United States flag is often referred to as the "Stars and Stripes" or "Old Glory," and is a symbol of freedom.

• The American flag was (possibly) made by Betsy Ross in 1776, and adopted as the official U.S. flag in 1777.

• The original flag featured 13 stars to represent the 13 original colonies.

• The current U.S. flag, which was adopted in 1960 when Hawaii became a state, features 50 stars to represent the 50 states, and 13 stripes to represent the 13 original colonies.

• The red in the flag is a symbol of valor and hardiness; white is for innocence and purity; and blue is for vigilance, perseverance and justice.

• The original Pledge of Allegiance was much shorter than the modern version: "I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands - one nation indivisible - with liberty and justice for all."