National Flag Day Celebration

Americanism Center

W4200 Valley View Road

Waubeka, WI   53021

262-692-9111

Stony Hill School

(Birthplace of U.S. Flag Day)

5595 Hwy I

Waubeka, WI   53021

            Each June, U.S. Flag Day is celebrated in style in Waubeka, Ozaukee County, Wisconsin.  The little hamlet of Waubeka is proud to be recognized as “The Birthplace of U.S. Flag Day”.  This distinction was affirmed by the U.S. House of Representa-tives which has officially proclaim Waubeka as “The Birthplace of U.S. Flag Day.”  Waubeka was also home to “The Father of Flag Day”, Dr. Bernard J. Cigrand, the son of Luxembourg immigrants Nicholas and Susanna Cigrand of Bourglinster, Luxembourg.

            While Flag Day is officially celebrated by our nation on June 14th, the observance of U. S. Flag Day in Waubeka takes place annually on the second Sunday of June, at the National Flag Day Foundation’s Americanism Center.  The festivities begin at 11:30 a.m. with an outdoor program that includes a ceremonial raising of the US flag, singing of the National Anthem, and the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance and Presidential Proclamation.  Special recognitions are awarded and there are musical salutes to the Armed Forces and military fly-overs.  The program concludes with a Benediction and Taps.   

Navy Band Entertaining at the Flag Day Program

            Following the opening program, a festive Flag Day parade takes places on Cigrand Drive, the main street of Waubeka.  The parade lasts about two hours and features a patriotic theme.  Over 100 marching and military units participate including notable traveling bands, area high school bands, squads, color guards, and pipe/drum units.  Other participants include fire departments, scout packs, 4-H clubs, equestrian units, civic and private floats, and antique vehicles.

University of Wisconsin Marching Band Performing in Flag Day Parade

            Throughout the day, the Americanism Center Museum is open to the public and is free of charge.  The Americanism Center exhibit includes the history of Flag Day, military artifacts, the history of Dr. Bernard J. Cigrand, and the history of Waubeka and neighboring Fredonia.  Food and refreshments are served at the Americanism Center throughout the day

            Along with the festivities sponsored by the National Flag Day Foundation, the Ozaukee County Historical Society, which operates the historic Stony Hill School – The Birthplace of Flag Day, also sponsors a National Flag Day Program and Celebration that same day.  These festivities take place at Stony Hill School located on the outskirts of Waubeka.

Flag Day Festivities at Stony Hill School

            Stony Hill School and its grounds open at 11 a.m. with a Flag Day program at 3:30 p.m.  Visitors can also experience the “Avenue of Flags” on the Stony Hill grounds.  The avenue includes 50 flag poles flying the flags from each state of the United States.  There is free parking and a shuttle from nearby Ozaukee Pioneer Village.  The celebration of U.S. Flag Day in Waubeka concludes with a fireworks show at sundown at the Americanism Center.

            You can learn more about Dr. Bernard J. Cigrand and the history of

U.S. Flag Day below.  For the date of this year’s U.S. Flag Day celebration in Waubeka, visit the LACS Calendar of Events.  You may also learn more at:

National Flag Day Foundation      

Ozaukee County Historical Society   
Dr. Bernard J. Cigrand’s Dental Office, Aurora, Illinois

Dr. Bernard J. Cigrand and the History of U. S. Flag Day

            U.S. Flag Day dates back to 1885, to Waubeka’s Stony Hill School located a short distance outside the village limits, and to Bernard J. Cigrand, the Father of Flag Day.  Bernard was born in Waubeka on October 1, 1866, the son of Luxembourg immigrants Nicholas and Susanna Cigrand.  As a youngster, Bernard displayed an early interest in American history, a devout patriotism for the land of America, and a great love for the U.S. flag.

            At the age of 19, Bernard became a schoolteacher at Stony Hill School near Waubeka.  There he conceived the idea of observing June 14 as the “birthday of the flag” bearing in mind that Congress had officially adopted the Stars and Stripes as the flag of the U.S. on June 14, 1777.

Bernard J. Cigrand as a Young Teacher

            Bernard held the first observance of Flag Day on June 14, 1885 at Stony Hill School where observers recall the small American flag that stood in a bottle on his schoolroom desk.  On that day, the graduating students turned in themes he had assigned them on the subject of the American Flag.  That was the beginning of many years of Bernard’s fervent effort to bring about a national observance of Flag Day.

            In 1886, Bernard left his position at Stony Hill School and went to Valparaiso, Indiana, to begin training for his chosen career of dentistry at Northern Indiana Normal School.  In 1888, he graduated from Northwestern University Dental School in Chicago and in 1891 from Lake Forest University.  The next two years found him studying industrial, educational and political economy at the University of Chicago.

            Upon his graduation in 1888, Bernard began a dental practice in Chicago.  One year later he married Alice Needham Crispe.  Six children were born from their union:  Bernard H., Joyce Alice, Elroy, Elaine, Virginia and Clyde. 

            Bernard was a prolific writer.  His best known works include the profusely illustrated Story of the American Flag, History of the American Emblems, The Real Abraham Lincoln, Life of Alexander Hamilton, History of American Heraldry, History of Dentistry, History of Medicine, Cigrand Family Genealogy, and Crispe Family.  He was a contributing editor to the Encyclopedia Americana and to numerous dental and literary journals. 

            Bernard served on the faculties of Northwestern University, the Illinois School of Dentistry, of which he was dean, and the University of Illinois.  National recognition for his leadership in dentistry was evidenced when he was elected and served for several years as President of the American College of Dental Surgery.  He also was at one time President of the Chicago Public Library.

              Throughout his career as dentist and educator, Bernard never gave up his crusade to have June 14th recognized as a national holiday when Americans might honor their flag.  He made his first public proposal of the idea in June 1886, through the medium of the Chicago Argus newspaper.  He campaigned tirelessly thereafter in newspaper and magazine articles, in books, and on the lecture platform, advocating for the recognition of Flag Day. 

Dr. Bernard J. Cigrand

            In 1894, Cigrand and LeRoy Van Horn of Chicago, a Civil War veteran, issued a newspaper call to “all persons who desire to commemorate the birthday of the American Flag” to attend a meeting in the assembly hall of the Grand Pacific Hotel in Chicago.  At this meeting was formed an Illinois Corporation known as the “American Flag Day Association”, whose purpose was to celebrate the flag on the third Saturday in June and to conduct such exercises in the interest of school children.  Cigrand was made Secretary of this organization and later when he became President in 1896, he directed that the actual date, June 14, be observed.  The Association held celebrations in the large parks in Chicago and because of the nationwide interest they evidenced, the National American Flag Day Association was formed and Bernard became its President.

            In 1912, Bernard and his family moved to Batavia, Illinois to a new stone house he built on Batavia Avenue.  He opened a dental office in this home where he practice until 1920 when he moved his practice to 47 ½ Fox Street in Aurora, so that his son, Dr. Elroy might practice with him.  During World War I, Bernard served with distinction as a Lieutenant in the United States Navy.

            The crowning achievement of Bernard’s life came at the age of 50, when President Woodrow Wilson, on June 14, 1916, issued a proclamation calling for a nation-wide observance of Flag Day.  Bernard’s years of campaigning for this designation came to fruition and the celebration of June 14th as Flag Day continues to this day.  Each year, as the Flag is honored, so is the name “Bernard J. Cigrand” heralded as the “Father of Flag Day”.  Bernard died on May 16, 1932 and was buried in Riverside Cemetery in Aurora.

            In 1946, a group of community leaders erected a memorial to Bernard J. Cigrand in Waubeka on what is today Cigrand Drive.  Since that time Flag Day has been celebrated each year in Waubeka with a program, a parade and other activities.

Memorial Honoring Bernard J. Cigrand in Waubeka

            In 1977 the Ozaukee County Historical Society acquired Stony Hill School.  The society operates the school as “The Birthplace of U. S. Flag Day” and a one-room school house historic site.  The school is visited (by appointment) by numerous school groups and other visitors throughout the spring, summer, and fall

.

            During the National Flag Day celebration in 2000, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg recognized the legacy of Luxembourg American Dr. Bernard J. Cigrand by placing a bronze bust of him in front of Waubeka’s Americanism Center.  The sculpture was created by Mr. Georges Calteux, Director of Sites and Monuments for the Luxembourg’s Ministry of Culture, and a relative of the Cigrand Family.  The sculpture graces the front courtyard area of the center and is a permanent reminder of the contributions of Bernard J. Cigrand and his Luxembourg American heritage.

Bronze Bust of Bernard J. Cigrand at the Americanism Center