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| National Flag Day Association | |
|---|---|
| Name | National Flag Day Association |
| Formation | 1885 |
| Type | Nonprofit |
| Purpose | Promotion of flag observance |
| Headquarters | Canton, Ohio |
| Leader title | President |
| Leader name | John Doe |
National Flag Day Association The National Flag Day Association is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the promotion, preservation, and observance of Flag Day in the United States. Founded in the late 19th century, the Association has worked with civic groups, municipal governments, veterans' organizations, and educational institutions to foster public recognition of the flag and its symbols. Through programs, events, publications, and partnerships, the Association connects commemorative practice with historical scholarship and community ritual.
The Association traces roots to civic movements in Canton, Ohio, Philadelphia, New York City, Boston, Chicago and Washington, D.C. that followed post‑Civil War commemorative activity linked to figures such as Betsy Ross, Francis Scott Key, George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and Abraham Lincoln. Early supporters included leaders from Daughters of the American Revolution, Sons of the American Revolution, Grand Army of the Republic, American Legion, and Veterans of Foreign Wars. Influential local politicians and civic reformers like William McKinley, Cyrus Eaton, Mark Hanna, Harvey Firestone, and John D. Rockefeller endorsed municipal proclamations modeled on precedents from Flag Day (United States) and petitions submitted to legislatures in Ohio General Assembly, United States Congress, and statehouses in Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Connecticut, New York (state). The Association coordinated with commemorative committees formed for anniversaries of events such as the American Revolution, War of 1812, Mexican–American War, Spanish–American War, World War I, World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War to reinforce civic ritual. Over decades the Association engaged scholars from institutions like Yale University, Harvard University, Princeton University, Columbia University, University of Pennsylvania, Ohio State University, Cleveland Clinic cultural historians associated with Smithsonian Institution, Library of Congress, National Archives, and archives at the House of Representatives and United States Senate.
The Association’s stated mission emphasizes observance, preservation, and education, aligning with initiatives advanced by organizations such as American Red Cross, Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts of the USA, Boyertown Area School District, National Park Service, and Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service. It issues guidance on protocol used by municipal councils in Cleveland, Akron, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Richmond, Virginia, Charleston, South Carolina, Savannah, Georgia, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. The Association publishes materials referencing historical documents like the United States Declaration of Independence, United States Constitution, Flag Resolution of 1777, and the writings of Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, John Adams, Alexander Hamilton, Patrick Henry, and Paul Revere.
Governance is overseen by a board composed of civic leaders, historians, veterans, and educators drawn from institutions such as National Park Service, United States Naval Academy, United States Military Academy at West Point, United States Air Force Academy, Ohio State University, Case Western Reserve University, Canton Repository, Akron Beacon Journal, and national veterans groups including American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars. Advisory committees include representatives from National Endowment for the Humanities, National Endowment for the Arts, Library of Congress, Smithsonian Institution, Historic American Buildings Survey, and state historical societies in Ohio Historical Society, Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, and Massachusetts Historical Commission. Legal counsel and nonprofit compliance draw on frameworks established under Internal Revenue Service 501(c)(3) regulations and oversight practices seen in national nonprofits like Red Cross and United Way Worldwide.
Signature events include Flag Day parades and ceremonies modeled after municipal observances in Canton, Ohio, New York City, Philadelphia, Chicago, and Washington, D.C.; wreath‑laying ceremonies at monuments such as the Statue of Liberty, Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and Bunker Hill Monument; and exhibitions in collaboration with museums like the National Museum of American History, Museum of the American Revolution, The National WWII Museum, Fort Ticonderoga, Valley Forge National Historical Park, and the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown. Educational contests and awards have been coordinated with organizations including Scripps National Spelling Bee, National History Day, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Council for the Social Studies, John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and regional historical societies.
Membership categories encompass individual members, organizational affiliates, student chapters at universities such as Ohio State University, University of Michigan, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Pennsylvania State University, University of Virginia, Harvard University, Yale University, and institutional partners including American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Daughters of the American Revolution, Sons of the American Revolution, Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts of the USA, 4-H, League of Municipalities, National Association of Counties, United States Conference of Mayors, National Governors Association, and museums like Smithsonian Institution and National Museum of the American Indian. Corporate sponsors have included foundations modeled on Ford Foundation, Guggenheim Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation, Carnegie Corporation of New York, and philanthropies tied to companies like General Electric, Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, Procter & Gamble, Kenwood, and Sherwin-Williams.
Outreach programs extend to K–12 schools via curriculum partnerships with National Council for the Social Studies, Smithsonian Education, Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources, NEH Summer Seminars, and state departments of education in Ohio Department of Education, Pennsylvania Department of Education, New York State Education Department, and Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Workshops and lecture series have featured historians from Harvard University, Yale University, Princeton University, Rutgers University, Columbia University, University of Pennsylvania, George Washington University, and veterans’ histories in partnership with National World War II Museum and Veterans History Project at the Library of Congress.
Funding sources include membership dues, charitable donations from foundations like Ford Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation, Carnegie Corporation, event revenue from ticketed ceremonies in Canton, Philadelphia, New York City, grants from federal agencies such as the National Endowment for the Humanities and National Endowment for the Arts, corporate sponsorships from firms modeled on Goodyear and Procter & Gamble, and in‑kind support from partners including Smithsonian Institution and Library of Congress. Financial oversight follows nonprofit best practices promoted by organizations like Council on Foundations, Independent Sector, Charity Navigator, and state charity regulators in Ohio Attorney General offices.
Category:Non-profit organizations based in the United States