Sue Haverfield, in center, prepares to post a 48-star American flag as part of the Flag Day ceremony at Depot Park in Kalispell Thursday evening. Also in the photo are Richard Sauerbier, left, and Jim Heibert. All three are members of the United Veterans of the Flathead. Congress authorized the Stars and Stripes as the official national symbol of the United States on June 14, 1777, according to the National Flag Day Foundation. Flag Day was born when Wisconsin teacher Bernard J. Cigrand had his class celebrate the flag’s birthday in 1885.