Thursday, June 14 , was “flag Day. The observance was established on June 14, 1777, by the Second Continental Congress, as it authorized a new flag to symbolize the new nation, “The United States of America.”

The Stars and Stripes first flew in a Flag Day celebration in Hartford, Conn. in 1861 during the first summer of the Civil War. The first national observance of Flag Day occurred June 14, 1877 on the centennial of the original flag resolution. In 1916,

President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation calling for a nationwide observance of Flag Day on June 14, but it was not until 1949 that Congress made this day a permanent observance by resolving, “That the 14th day of June of each year is hereby designated as Flag Day.”

The measure was signed into law by President Harry Truman. I will never forget my school days when I placed my hand across my chest and proudly repeated the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag.

I want to say “God bless America and express thanks to all of our soldiers and their families.

Special belated happy birthday wishes go out this week to Ronnie McCaghren and Jada Moore, both on June 19, and happy birthday wishes to Bari Camper and Dewayne Eddy, both on Jun 21 and Dale Bibb and Gerald Taylor, both on June 23.

Special happy wedding anniversary wishes go out this week to Steve and Mary Terry. They will enjoy celebrating their 24th wedding anniversary on June 21.

Wonderful happy wedding anniversary wishes go out this week to Brad and Sherry Anderson. They will enjoy celebrating their 32nd anniversary on June 22.

Members of Shady Grove Baptist Church express Christian love and heartfelt prayers for the following who are on the prayer list: Teresa Thomas, Polly Callahan, Jimmie Lake, Steve Riley, Jerry Blankenship, Conrad Sharp, Cecil Ransom, Ben Anderson, Faye Pickle, Connie Campbell, Stephen Hamilton, Mandy Johnson, Kaye Already, Jerry Jordan, Buddy Stewart, Sherry Anderson and Lucy.

Members of Shady Grove Baptist Church will be hold a “Mission Possible” vacation Bible school June 24-29. “Mission Possible” is a week of work, fellowship and fun for the youth and the young at heart.

Special happy birthday wishes go out this week to Emily Burnett on June 20, Will Partlow on June-21 and Hanna Roberts on June 24.

Special belated happy wedding anniversary wishes go out this week to Rufus and Andryne Perm on June l1.

Wonderful happy wedding anniversary wishes go out this week to Pick and Mandy Rowe on June 26.

I want to share this advice with our Hartselle Enquirer readers that I read this week as follows: “A good listener knows how to keep his mouth shut and his ears open. When his mouth is open and his ears are closed, he isn’t learning anything.”