Last week we celebrated one of my favorite holidays: Flag Day! Though not a federal day off, each year the President delivers an address that proclaims the week of June 14th as National Flag Week and all Americans are encouraged to fly U.S. flags during that week.
Pennsylvania has a unique role in the origins of Flag Day. According to an Associated Press article entitled “This Wisconsin Town Claims to Being Birthplace of Flag Day” by Nexstar Media, “William T. Kerr is credited with the founding of the American Flag Day Association in 1888 while still a schoolboy in Pittsburgh.” He is considered by many as the "Father of Flag Day." The date was chosen because it was the day in 1777 when the Continental Congress approved the design of a national flag.
In the past, Betsy Ross was thought to have been its designer, but today historians debate this.
According to Rodney C. Wakeman in his article, Bob Heft and the 50 Star Flag, “the current American flag was designed by a high school student from Lancaster, Ohio, named Bob Heft.” He only got a B- on his project for not knowing the correct number of states in the union. (He had unknowingly placed fifty stars before Hawaii and Alaska joined!) He submitted that incorrect design to President Eisenhower who called him and, as they say, the rest is history.
I believe a flag is a very important symbol. It gives us something to look up to as a group, something to rally around, something in which to find our identity. As Americans, we may take great pride or even shed a tear as we see photos of the men struggling to raise the flag on Iwo Jima or the firemen raising the flag at Ground Zero after 9/11. Through our flag, we find connection, a shared understanding, a bond.
The people of God also have a flag. In the Scripture, it is usually called a "banner." In Exodus 17, the Amalekites attacked the Israelites, so Moses told Joshua to select men to fight. However, Moses went to the top of the hill with the banner of God in his hands. As the battle progressed, the Israelites were successful as the banner was raised but failed when Moses' arms tired and the banner fell. Two men, Aaron and Hur, then came to help Moses keep his hands lifted until the Amelekites were completely defeated (Exodus 17:8-13).
After the battle, Moses recognized that as long as they gave God the glory, He gave them the victory. So Moses built an altar and called it "The Lord is my Banner" (v. 15). This is also one of the names we have for God. “Jehovah-Nissi” means "The Lord is our Banner" in Hebrew. Again, the definition is just the same: the One we look up to, connect with, rally around. We have a shared understanding. He identifies with us in our suffering and sin so much that He died for us, and therefore, we have an eternal bond of love. In fact, Song of Solomon 2:4 says, "He brought me to His banqueting house, and His banner over me was love" (NKJV).
When I see the flags flying throughout our nation, I feel many emotions but mostly gratitude for the men and women who are willing to die to make us free. When I think of the banner of the Lord, I feel the same. Psalm 60:4 says, "But you have raised a banner for those who fear you — a rallying point in the face of attack" (NLT).
Because of His great love and sacrifice, we can raise our banners as Psalm 20:5 says, "May we shout for joy over your victory and lift up our banners in the name of our God" (NIV). Our Flag Day is not one day or one week, but a continual waving of thanks and victory in the name of Jesus.
So the next time you see Old Glory waving from the side of your neighbor's garage, think about the glory and honor represented by that other banner too and look up with thanks.
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