Today is Flag Day.

On May 7, 1937, Pennsylvania became the first state to establish the June 14 Flag Day as a legal holiday.In fact, Flag Day is a nationwide observance, but Pennsylvania is the only state that recognizes it as a legal holiday.Flag facts• The Continental Congress passed a resolution on June 14, 1777:"That the flag of the United States shall be of thirteen stripes of alternate red and white, with a union of thirteen stars of white in a blue field, representing the new constellation."The resolution was made following the report of a special committee which had been assigned to suggest the flag's design.First carry• A flag of this design was first carried into battle on Sept. 11, 1777, in the Battle of the Brandywine.The American flag was first saluted by foreign naval vessels on Feb. 14, 1778, when the Ranger, bearing the Stars and Stripes and under the command of Capt. Paul Jones, arrived in a French port.The flag first flew over a foreign territory in early 1778 at Nassau, Bahama Islands, where Americans captured a British fort.Public display•. In 1897, the governor of New York ordered the displaying of the flag over all public buildings in the state, an observance considered by some to be the first official recognition of the anniversary of the adoption of the flag outside of schools.• Both President Wilson, in 1916, and President Coolidge, in 1927, issued proclamations asking for June 14 to be observed as the National Flag Day. But it wasn't until Aug. 3, 1949, that Congress approved the national observance, and President Harry Truman signed it into law.Evolution of our flag• The flag's original design remained the same from 1777 to 1795.• The first significant change came in January 1794, when two stars and two stripes were added to reflect the recent admissions of Kentucky and Vermont to the Union.It was this 15-star, 15-stripe flag that inspired Francis Scott Key to write the poem that later became known as "The Star-Spangled Banner," after seeing it fly over Fort McHenry during the War of 1812.• In 1818, another design went into effect, permanently setting the number of stripes at 13 (in honor of the original colonies) and allowing for new stars to be added ceremonially each July 4 should a new state be admitted.• In 1912, the flag had 48 stars, with New Mexico added Jan. 6, 1912 and Arizona added Feb. 14.• In 1959, the flag had 49 stars, with Alaska added Jan. 3.• The flag had its last revision, with a star for Hawaii added Aug. 21, 1959.The colorsThere are very specific colors used to create the flag.It's the Textile Color Card Association of the United States that creates the palate of colors used for both private and public institutions, and the U.S. Army that issues a reference guide of acceptable shades to be used in local, state and national flags. So if you're trying to produce a truly authentic American flag, you'll need to use the exact shades of white, "Old Glory Red" and "Old Glory Blue," specified in the guide.However, mass-market flag manufacturers have been known to fudge a bit and use the more-easily processed Pantone Matching Shades of Dark Red (193 C) and Navy Blue (281 C).Notable dates• The flag that flew over Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, was flown over the White House on Aug. 14, 1945, when the Japanese accepted surrender terms.• Congress added "Under God" to the Pledge in 1954 - during the Cold War. Many members of Congress reportedly wanted to emphasize the distinctions between the United States and the officially atheistic Soviet Union.• On Sept. 11, 2001: The flag from the World Trade towers survived and became a symbol of sacrifice in service, loss and determination.The flag that never wasIn 1889, flag manufacturers believed that the two Dakotas would be admitted as one state and so manufactured this flag, some of which still exist. It was never an official flag.Why Old GloryAccording to USflag.org, this famous name was coined by Captain William Driver, a shipmaster of Salem, Massachusetts, in 1831. As he was leaving on one of his many voyages aboard the brig Charles Doggett, and this one would climax with the rescue of the mutineers of the Bounty - friends presented him with a beautiful flag of 24 stars.As the banner opened to the ocean breeze for the first time, he exclaimed "Old Glory!"He retired to Nashville in 1837, taking his treasured flag from his sea days with him. By the time the Civil War erupted, most everyone in and around Nashville recognized Driver's "Old Glory." When Tennessee seceded from the Union, Rebels were determined to destroy his flag, but repeated searches revealed no trace of the hated banner.On Feb. 25, 1862, Union forces captured Nashville and raised the American flag over the capital. It was a rather small ensign and immediately folks began asking Driver if "Old Glory" still existed. As the stitches holding the quilt-top to the batting unraveled, the onlookers peered inside and saw the 24-starred original "Old Glory."Driver gently gathered up the flag and returned with the soldiers to the capitol. Though he was 60 years old, the Captain climbed up to the tower to replace the smaller banner with his beloved flag. Driver's grave is located in the old Nashville City Cemetery, and is one of three places authorized by act of Congress where the Flag of the United States may be flown 24 hours a day.The pledgeIn 1892, the Pledge of Allegiance was first published in a magazine called "The Youth's Companion," written by Francis Bellamy."I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."To see a video of the Pledge of Allegiance recited around the area, go to the Times News Facebook page.