President Warren G. Harding is the keynote speaker at an American Legion-organized conference in Washington to establish rules of respect and procedure for the U.S. flag. The National Flag Conference brings together 68 organizations, including military service branches, educators and government officials. The event is coordinated by The American Legion’s Americanism Commission.
One year later, on Flag Day 1924, the conference reconvenes and officially establishes Flag Code. States, schools and municipal governments across the country begin following the code. Congress, meanwhile, waits 19 years to pass the rules into federal law.
“That piece of red, white and blue bunting means 5,000 years of struggle upwards. It is the full-grown flower of ages of fighting for liberty. It is the century plant of human hope in bloom.”
American Legion National Commander Alvin Owsley, 1923
