Cord Byrd: “Hats off! Hats off! The flag is passing by. Hats off! The flag is passing by.'' Those are the powerful words of Henry…”

“Hats off! Hats off! The flag is passing by. Hats off! The flag is passing by.'' Those are the powerful words of Henry Holcomb Bennett in his stirring poem, ``The Flag Goes By.'' I recite those words because today, this day, is June 14, Flag Day. Yes, Flag Day. There by the President's desk, that flag. This day is Flag Day, the day that Americans pause to celebrate and show our respect for our great national emblem, the American flag. This, unfortunately, is not a Federal holiday but, in my opinion, is one of the most important days of the year. This is a day filled with so much meaning, so much symbolism, so much history. It was on June 14, 1777, that the Continental Congress adopted the Flag Act that established the official flag of the United States of America. The 13 Colonies assembled in the Continental Congress took this action because they understood the need for a symbol of our national unity. During the early days of the American Revolution, the Colonial Armies were fighting under the banners of their individual Colonies or, in some cases, of their local militia units. The banner of New England, for example, was the Liberty Tree. Do you remember the Liberty Tree?…”