National Flag Day is now an important date in the American calendar and is celebrated by people sending free e-cards to one another. Among irrevocable national symbols, the flag is no doubt the most visible, perhaps the one carrying the strongest emotional ties and representing the greatest symbolic value.

The flag of the United States adorns all public, government, and many a commercial and private building, and is quite a recognizable article of Americana. In fact, desecration of the flag, such as burning or otherwise defacing it, is considered subversive and disloyal and there is a sizeable constituency of Americans who believe in criminalizing the intentional damage of the national flag.

The national flag is the subject of many a story, not to mention the national anthem. It quickly gained acclaim as a national symbol and has been revered as such ever since. The idea of setting aside a day to celebrate the flag originated in a Wisconsin classroom in 1885 when an inventive teacher organized the first commemoration of the anniversary of the flag's adoption by the Continental Congress on this date in 1777.

The holiday is currently administered by the National Flag Day Foundation, which hosts an annual ceremonial event at Fort McHenry in Maryland. June 14th was designated National Flag Day by President Truman in August 1949 and it has been celebrated every year since this date.

An agenda of standard patriotic activities has been created to celebrate this occasion. It is followed throughout the celebration of the American flag's so-called birthday. The pledge of allegiance, undertaking devotion to the values and beliefs advocated by the United States and epitomized by the actual flag, is recited throughout the country in honour of the occasion.

Also commending the observance are exhibitions of military force and pride, including fly-over's using special military jets, battle re-enactments, sky-diving and other tactical demonstrations. There are also firing salutes, and military band performances, particularly at the Fort McHenry National Monument and Shrine.

A picnic and fireworks atmosphere resembling that of July 4th is enjoyed by people of all ages. The national anthem is sung to the flag at appropriate ceremonies all over the country. As the celebration originated in the spirit of education, revisit that aspect of the holiday by picking up a book about pre-revolutionary America and the origins not only of the physical flag, but also of the history of freedom seeking that it represents to this day.

There are now many free e-cards to mark this occasion. Many of these free e-cards are in the theme of the flag. Popular categories for these ecards are the names of the flag. Some of the e-cards represent the Stars and Stripes.

There are other ecards made out to Old Glory, and the Star-Spangled Banner, which doubles as the name of the U.S. national anthem. Each year there are hundreds of thousands of free e-cards sent out to celebrate this occasion. Many people send the e cards to their friends and family as a way of marking the event.