Foley, Ala. — (OBA) —  The Foley Elks Lodge invites the public to a Flag Day ceremony at 2621 S. Juniper St. in Foley to mark America's 250th anniversary. The event will feature a formal ceremony, food, and a look at the history of 27 versions of the American flag. National Flag Day is observed each year on the anniversary of the Continental Congress's first adoption of the Stars and Stripes. This year's celebration carries extra meaning, marking 250 years since the founding of the United States.

The event takes place tomorrow, Sunday, June 14, 2026, starting at 1:00 p.m., at the lodge, 2621 S. Juniper St., Foley, Alabama 36535. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn how the flag has changed over two and a half centuries, from the original 13-star version in 1777 to today's 50-star design.

The Elks have a long connection to Flag Day. According to Wikipedia, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks designated June 14 as Flag Day by resolution in 1907, and their support helped prompt President Woodrow Wilson to formally recognize the observance in 1916.

Most people know the current flag has 50 stars, but few know who designed it. In 1958, a 17-year-old Ohio student named Bob Heft cut up his family's 48-star flag and, using his mother's sewing machine, sewed on 50 stars — anticipating that both Alaska and Hawaii would become states. His history teacher gave him a B-minus. Heft mailed the design to Congress anyway, and President Eisenhower selected it. On July 4, 1960, Heft stood beside the president as the 50-star flag flew for the first time. His teacher later changed the grade to an A, according to America250.org.

Another fact most people miss: June 14 is also the U.S. Army's birthday. On June 14, 1775, the Continental Congress voted to establish the Continental Army, more than two years before the flag was officially adopted. The flag and the Army have shared the same birthday ever since, according to the USO.

The nickname "Old Glory" also has a specific origin that is not widely known. A Massachusetts sea captain, William Driver, gave the name to a 24-star flag he received from his mother in 1824. During the Civil War, Driver hid the flag in a quilt to keep Confederate forces from seizing it. The original "Old Glory" is now preserved at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C.

The flag has been changed 27 times in its history, with each new state adding a star. The stripes, however, have remained at 13 since 1818, when Congress decided to stop adding stripes and instead keep the count as a tribute to the original colonies.

The Foley Elks Lodge event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact the lodge at (251) 971-2782, or visit their website at Lodge #2782 Contact Us.