University of North Texas

Flag Day is June 14. The designation celebrates the establishment of a red, white and blue star-clad banner chosen in 1777 to represent the fledgling United States of America. Flags will fly over campus this fall in a new, prominent location. Where?

A. From the top of Hurley Administration Building’s clock tower.

B. Adjacent to the Murchison Performing Arts Center.

C. At the Bahnsen gym entrance.

D. South of Willis Library.

The correct answer is D: south of Willis Library. Three shiny, new flagpoles have been installed there and will be inaugurated during First Flight Week, activities that introduce the campus to new students prior to the beginning of classes. Residence halls will open Sunday Fun Day, Aug. 21 and the first day of class is Aug. 25.

The flagpoles will fly Old Glory - the flag of the United States of America - the Texas state flag and a UNT flag. The location is adjacent to Library Mall and is one of the busiest areas on campus for faculty, staff and students on foot, bicycle or motor vehicle.

On June 14, 1777, the Continental Congress approved a flag that had 13 stripes, alternating in red and white, and 13 stars, white on a blue field. Patriot and seamstress Betsy Ross is credited with creating the country's first flag, right.

Flag Day observances date to 1861, President Woodrow Wilson made June 14 the official day to celebrate and display the flag in 1916, and Congress declared June 14 National Flag Day in 1949.

Enter to win a UNT T-shirt by sending an email to InHouse with "Flag" in the subject line by 5 p.m. June 17. Winners will be selected at random from all responses.

UNT began its centennial year on Jan. 15, 1990, with its own flag day. State and federal officials sent flags that had flown over the U.S. Capitol buildings to be raised on campus with the official centennial flag.

Banners noting the university's 100th birthday were hung at a Jan. 31, 1990 centennial convocation, below, as administrators and faculty turned to face the United States flag during the playing of the national anthem.

• Find the U.S. Flag Code.
• Find a summary of flag etiquette from the Veterans of Foreign Wars.  

(Information from The Story of North Texas, by James L. Rogers. Photos courtesy of The Portal to Texas History, and the Library of Congress.)