Flag Day

AT THE CENTER

Admission: Programs FREE with museum admission

One of the Center’s biggest civic holidays—the joint birthday of the American flag and the U.S. Army—falls on the same day we open the doors to our must-see feature exhibition, The 1968 Exhibit. On opening weekend, we will explore what the year 1968 meant to our flag, our military, and our country!

Programs

• The 1968 Exhibit will open with a special ribbon-cutting ceremony featuring Army veterans who served during the Vietnam War, as well as a special performance of the national anthem in the style of ’60s rock icon Jimi Hendrix. The ribbon cutting will be followed by the raising of a Vietnam-era flag on the Center’s front lawn and Independence Mall’s annual Flag Day–Army Day Parade!
• In honor of Flag Day, visitors can participate in flag-raising ceremonies at the beginning and end of the day.
• At the interactive Star-Spangled Banner show, visitors will learn about Francis Scott Key, the Battle of Fort McHenry, and the flag that inspired America's national anthem. 
• A special edition of our flag etiquette workshop will explore the history of the American flag from the American Revolution to today, including the diverse meanings of the flag during the 1960s—from the protesters who burned it to the moment Neil Armstrong planted it on the surface of the moon.
• Special tours of the Center’s main exhibition will highlight the history of the United States Army from its founding on June 14, 1775, when George Washington was named our first commander in chief, through the tumultuous years of the Vietnam War, to current operations. 
• Visitors can get into the 1960s spirit by designing an American flag with special tie-dye effects as well as other patriotic crafts!
• In an artifact workshop, learn about one of the biggest primary sources the Center has ever had on display—the Huey, a Vietnam-era helicopter—and discover what this artifact tells us about that moment in American history.

IN THE CLASSROOM

Lesson Plans

• The History of Flag Day

Videos

• The History of the U.S. Flag

Activities

• American Flag Pinwheels
• Design Your Own Flag
• Patriotic Wreaths

From Constitution Daily

• A Brief History of Flag Day