Memorial Day through Fourth of July

Flag Display

Long May They Wave - a display of 43 historic United States Flags opens Memorial Day weekend at the Park District Administration Center, 410 N. Arlington Heights Road and in North School Park, south of the Center. Fifteen historic flags from Revolutionary times line up in front of the Administration Center while the evolution of Old Glory flags-from 13 stars in 1790 to the 50-star flag ratified in 1960-are grouped in the Park. Flags are lighted for night viewing. Brochures detailing the history of each flag along with historic information are available at all Park District centers as well as in holders throughout the Park. The display will remain through the July 4 weekend.

Park District staff researched the flags and worked on building and installing the display after the events of 9/11.

Historic Flag Display Opens Memorial Weekend

Print a copy of the Flag Brochure - (pdf file)

Flags have been an integral part of North School Park since it's construction in 1991. The amphitheatre is ringed with flag poles (a generous donation from the Arlington Heights Lions Club)which have displayed historic flags, military service flags and those representing our state, Village and Park District. In response to the patriotic fervor following the September terrorist attacks, the Arlington Heights Park District chose to install a display of historic American flags. Grouped within the Park, Eastman Street and Arlington Heights Road and in front of the Administration Center, 410 N. Arlington Heights Road, these flags remind us of our precious freedom and the connection we cherish as 50 united states:

"Oh, long may it wave, O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!"
 (from the second stanza of Francis Scott Key's Star Spangled Banner.)

History of Administration Center & North School Park

Before it became the Park District's Administration Center in 1988, the building at 410 N. Arlington Heights Road was the old North School, built in 1938. The land south of the building was purchased jointly by the Village and the Park District and turned into North School Park in 1991. That land had originally been donated by William Dunton in 1870 for a playground. His wish was that it always be for the use of children. It's a favorite location for passive recreation for residents and visitors. For more park district information: view About Us on the Park District website or call 847-577-3000.

History of Our Flag

Flags have been important in American history since the first settlers arrived from Europe. Until Congress adopted the stars and stripes design on June 14, 1777, there was little conformity. The first US flags retained British symbols in case of a reconciliation with the mother country. Although legend has Betsy Ross designing the first flag, historians believe it was actually congressman Francis Hopkinson, based on journals of the Continental Congress from whom he attempted to receive payment for his design: " Would not a quarter cask of the public wine be a reasonable and proper reward for my labors?"

Regardless of the exact origin of our flags' designs, it is the Arlington Heights Park District's intent to honor our patriotic pride with this display of historic and evolutionary United States flags.

Honoring the Flag

A surge of patriotism during the early days of the Civil War led to the recorded observance of Flag Day on June 14, 1861. In 1916, Woodrow Wilson proclaimed June 14 be set aside as a day to honor the birth of our national flag. Congress, in 1949, made June 14 a national day of legal observance. The first pledge of allegiance to the flag was written in a children's publication Youth's Companion, September 8, 1892, in an effort to revive patriotism in American's children. A law was passed in the Washington state legislature instructing school directors to hold flag exercises every week at which time students would recite the pledge. The wording was revised twice by Congressional committees until Congress adopted our current version on June 14, 1954:

I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Our Thanks to...

Our talented Parks Department staff who researched the flags, purchased flags and poles, designed the flag holders and lighting, installed the display and arranged for proper signage; and the Arlington Heights Park Foundation for their support.

Flag Etiquette

The Flag Code sets forth the ways in which we give respect to the flag with specific instructions:

The Flag...

• should never be dipped to any person or thing. It is flown upside down only as a distress signal.
• should not be used as a drapery or for covering a speaker's desk, draping a platform or for any decoration in general. Bunting of red, white and blue stripes is available for these purposes. The blue stripe of the bunting should be on top.
• should never be used for any advertising purpose. It should not be embroidered, printed or otherwise impressed on such articles as cushions, handkerchiefs, napkins, boxes or anything intended to be discarded after temporary use. Advertising signs should not be attached to the staff or halyard.
• should not be used as part of a costume or athletic uniform, except that a flag patch may be used on the uniform of military, fire or police personnel, and members of patriotic organizations.
• should never have placed on it, or attached to it, any mark, insignia, letter, word, number, figure, or drawing of any kind.
• should never be used as a receptacle for receiving, holding, carrying, or delivering anything.

When the flag is lowered, no part of it should touch the ground or any other object; it should be received by waiting hands and arms. To store the flag, it should be folded nearly and ceremoniously.

More about North School Park