The beginnings of Flag Day are more than a century old and hail from Buffalo New York.  The beginnings of the day trace back to teacher and educator Sarah Hinson.

Hinson was born, raised and educated in Buffalo.  In 1864, she began a long teaching and administrative career in the public school system in Buffalo.

While teaching, Hinson thought kids should know about the American flag and what it symbolizes. She taught students to pay respect to the flag by reciting the Pledge of Allegiance of the United States.  On June 14th, 1891, she began a tradition of a formal ceremony of saluting and honoring the flag on the anniversary of the day that the Continental Congress accepted the design of the American flag.

Other teachers and schools began the tradition in following years and finally it caught on across the country.  Flag Day became an official observance under President Woodrow Wilson in 1916.

Sarah Hinson died in 1926 – she’s buried in Forest Lawn Cemetery in Buffalo.  Her grave is marked by a flag pole flying the American flag and these words on her stone – “Sarah Hinson – dedicated teacher who with others gave us Flag Day.”

Here's more information on Billings and nearby Flag Day activities.

Flags when they are unserviceable are disposed of in a proper ceremony.  American Legion posts in Billings or Boy Scout troops are a couple of the area groups that can help you with proper disposal.

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