
Jaye Bennett waves an American flag as she listens to speakers during a Tea Party rally at the State House, Monday, April 18, 2011. - Gerry Melendez, The State
Flag Day stems from several movements to set aside a day to honor the flag, including a leading effort by the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, a fraternal order dating back to the 19th century. In 1911 the group's governing body made it mandatory that all lodges to observe June 14 as the anniversary of the country's adoption of the 13-star flag.
Years later in 1949, then-President Harry Truman, himself an Elk, signed an act of Congress that established the national Flag Day.
