Take time to remember our flag

It flies high outside of schools, churches and government buildings. We take our hats off to it at baseball games and we salute it, to honor our fallen. It is a symbol of our country's values, traditions and freedoms. In all of its red, white an blue…it is our American flag.

Inspired by state and local celebrations, Flag Day, which is the anniversary of the Flag Resolution of 1777, was officially established by the Proclamation of President Woodrow Wilson on May 30, 1916. While Flag Day was celebrated in various communities for years after Wilson's proclamation, it was not until Aug. 3, 1949, when President Truman signed an Act of Congress designating June 14 of each year as National Flag Day.

In a proclamation in 1996, President Bill Clinton reminded the United States of the beauty, liberty and justice the American flag represents. He also reminded citizens of the value the flag has to service members of this country.

"The brave members of our Armed Forces carry 'Old Glory' with them as they fulfill their mission to defend the blessings of democracy and peace across the globe," it stated. "The Flag is a badge of honor to all - a sign of our citizen's common purpose."

While we celebrate our American Flag today, we also celebrate the U.S. Army on its 233rd birthday. As an equal contributor to the total force of the U.S. Army, the Illinois Army National Guard celebrates its birthday. Since its birth on June 14, 1775, more than a year before the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Army has played a vital role in the growth and development of this nation. Soldiers have fought more than 10 wars, from the American Revolution through the Cold War, the Gulf War, to the current operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.

Since Sept. 11, 2001, more than 9,000 Illinois Army National Guard Soldiers have been deployed for operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. Today there are approximately 625 Illinois Soldiers currently deployed while 2,700 Soldiers of the 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team are preparing for the largest overseas deployment of the Illinois Army National Guard since World War II.

Today, please take the time to recognize our flag and all it represents. As Soldiers, it is the symbol of freedom we defend, the symbol we carry into battle and the symbol we fight and die for. I encourage you to show your respect for our flag and fly it proudly and not just today, but every day.

William L. Enyart

Major General (IL), ILARNG

The Adjutant General

Springfield