Knute Munson- untitledJune 14th marks Flag Day here in the USA. In 1916, Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation that this day would be established as Flag Day. While this wasn't made official by Congress until 1949, the state of Pennsylvania took the initiative and made it a state holiday in 1937.
Around this same time, a talented Swedish immigrant named Knute Munson began illustrating advertisements for clients like Milky Way candy bars after moving from Michigan to Chicago. In 1945, Munson's works (such as the untitled flag-themed one above) would be featured by the Twin Cities-based Brown & Bigelow agency in their Direct Mail calendar line [it should be noted that Brown & Bigelow hold the rights to other works by artists like Gil Elvgren, Norman Rockwell and Fredrick Remington- NANESB!]. Apparently B&B never bothered with titles in Munson's case.
But getting back to Flag Day- the longest running Flag Day parade takes place every year in the eastern Washington town of Fairfield. The parade for the farming town of 500 this year included a flyover from a KC-135. The Elks are also active in planning and participating in a number of Flag Day parades and celebrations nationwide, and in Philadelphia, the Betsy Ross House has long played host to the city's Flag Day celebrations.
Don't forget happy 235th birthday U.S. Army today as well.
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