Bernard J. Cigrand (1866-1932), Father of Flag Day

Honor, to whom Honor Deserves!

He was a glowing admirer of the American Flag and made June 14 the National Flag Day. Bernard J. Cigrand, son of Luxembourg immigrants to the USA, made history there. To this day Americans celebrate his day with pomp and patriotism.

No doubts, Americans love their flag. So it seems only logical that, once a year, the Amis celebrate their Flag Day; on June 14 the national colors are honored. This mandatory celebration takes place on the nearest Sunday; therefore some times a few days before the official date, some times a few days after the official date.

For this year, the colorful spectacle was scheduled for June 11. The largest parades might probably have taken place in Wisconsin and Illinois, two federal states of the northern mid-west. It is there that the majority of the descendants of immigrants from Luxembourg to the United States of America live. It is from their midst that the spiritual father of the American Flag Day hails. His name: Bernard John Cigrand.

In mid-19th century many people in middle and central Europe were dissatisfied with their living conditions. Everywhere social conflicts arose and major social changes were forthcoming. For many, who did not want to wait, the call from overseas came just in time: America, the land of unlimited opportunities, was luring. Luxembourg was no exception. According to estimations, between 1845 and World War I, over 70,000 people emigrated. That was almost a quarter of the population of the time.

Twenty-one year old Nicolas Cigrand, a trained blacksmith, from Burglinster was amongst those who dared the voyage. He sailed from Antwerp and disembarked from the ship Koophandel on May 6, 1852 in New York. Three and a half months later, on July 19, 1852, the family Schmidt from Mensdorf, with daughter Susanne, arrived in New York. On April 15, 1856 Nicolas Cigrand and Susanne Schmidt were married. The wedding takes place in Waubeka. The tiny place gets its name from an Indian chief of the Sauk tribe. Waubeka lies in the county of Ozaukee, also an Indian name, [NB: Ozaukee means yellow earth] lies in the North-American state of Wisconsin, which translated means: gathering of the waters. [NB: alternative meaning: place of the beavers.]

Waubeka lies halfway between Chicago to the south and Green Bay to the north. Natives call the area the Green Heart of Luxembourg in Wisconsin since there are no less than seven villages, which have been certifiably founded by Luxembourgers. The average European, however, associates this large region with the Chicago Bulls, Michael Jordan's former basketball team or with the Green Bay Packers football team, winner of the 1999 Superbowl.

Bernard John Cigrand was born on October 1, 1866, in Waubeka, the sixth child of the immigrants from Luxembourg Nicolas and Susanne Cigrand Schmidt. At the age of 15, a teacher's position is offered to the young man. He turns it down, continues his education and only begins teaching when he is 19 years of age. His school lies outside of Waubeka and has entered American history books as Stony Hill School.

It is there that, on June 14, 1885, B.J. celebrates, together with his pupils, the first recognized Observance of the Flag Day. He affirms his admiration for the United States of America with a little flag, rising out of a bottle on his desk. The young teacher has his final class write an essay about the meaning of June 14, 1777.

On that day, the American senate had decided that the flag of the United States would consist of 13 alternating red and white stripes and 13 white stars on blue background. The 13 stands for the number of [the original] federal states, which founded the United States. After the Americans had proclaimed their independence on July 4, 1776, they inflicted to the British troops a decisive defeat in 1777.

Bernard Cigrand sees in the American flag a-not-to-be-underestimated symbol of the unity of the state - after the trauma of the civil war from 1861 to 1865 such a symbol was urgently needed. In 1886 he ends his teacher's career in order to pursue the study of dentistry. He becomes an extremely successful dentist and holds lectures at several universities.

Over the years, Bernard Cigrand intensifies his efforts to have June 14 recognized nation-wide as Flag Day. He writes innumerable articles about the symbolic power of the American flag, pleads in public speeches for the introduction of Flag Day, writes books about the meaning of June 14, 1777. Thanks to his political commitment in the Democratic Party, his academic career and numerous public office positions in Chicago he achieves nation-wide attention.

Cigrand earns praise and acknowledgement, among others from US-President Theodore Roosevelt. On May 30, 1916, he achieves his goal. President Woodrow Wilson declares June 14 as Flag Day by proclaiming that the Flag has vindicated its right to be honored by all nations of the world and feared by none who do righteousness. Bernard J. Cigrand dies on May 16, 1932 at the age of 65 years.

With the arrival of the white people the centuries-old culture of the Indians was doomed. For Europeans, the new North-American History is not far-reaching enough. Amis don't mind that. They love and celebrate their short past shaped by immigrants from various cultures. This explains, why the American Flag in Waubeka, can get competition on its very Flag Day: Luxembourg's Red-White-and-Blue joins the Stars-and-Stripes.

The Luxembourg Society of Wisconsin, with 79-years young, extremely busy Beatrice Krier, at the helm, works tirelessly to remind [the public] of the Luxembourg roots of Flag Day. In this millennium year she could welcome exceptionally numerous visitors from the Grand Duchy. A cultural project between Luxembourg and the USA has made this possible.

As expected, Bernard J. Cigrand was the focus of the celebrations. Based on old pictures, Georges Calteux, Director of [Luxembourg's] Service des Sites et Monuments Nationaux, had created a clay bust which was cast in bronze by the Mola [art] studio in Ettelbrück. The sculpture, a life-size depiction of Cigrand, was officially inaugurated on June 11, 2000. It stands in front of the Flag Day museum in Waubeka.

The ambassador of Luxembourg in Washington, Arlette Conzemius, embassy attaché Carlo Krieger, as well as the American ambassador to Luxembourg, James C. Hormel, participated in the typical American ceremony. Mady Durrer and Léopold Winandy brought musical greetings from the Grand Duchy. They sang the Heemecht [Luxembourg National Anthem] as well as a ballad, in English, about the life and deeds of Bernard Cigrand. The lyrics by Jemp Schuster have been put to music by the Luxembourg ambassador in Strasbourg [France], Jerry Phillips.

The ballad published on the CD Dir & Mir by the [ensemble] Troaterbattien plays also when one approaches the statue. Thus visitors get, in an amusing way, a peek into Cigrand's biography. The dancing group d'Heesprénger provided, through their performances, well appreciated insights into Luxembourg folklore. In short, at the Flag Day 2000 observance, Luxembourgers waived their flag too! For Americans, that was simply great!

The sign reads: Wëllkomm to Belgium, Home of Luxembourgers. It stands 150 kilometers north of Chicago in the middle of the US federal state of Wisconsin. Many descendants of immigrants from Luxembourg still live in the area. To this day they keep the memory to the old home [land] alive. Despite all the patriotism, one's own roots are not forgotten. As a visitor from the Grand Duchy one is often asked if it is Luxembourgisch that one speaks there. Quite often the inquiring person proudly delivers a few fragments in our mother language. Old-time Luxembourgers maintain good relationships amongst themselves too. There are several associations and once a month the Luxembourg News of America is published. The Historical Society of Port Washington works for the preservation of the multi-cultural heritage.

After the Flag Day event the regional daily newspaper displayed proudly on the first page that many honorable guests from Luxembourg, a tiny country, had participated... Whoever wants to experience the living past should travel to Waubeka on August 13, 2000. That's where the annual Luxembourg Fest will be held.

Translation: Fausto Gardini, The Vail Corporation, Atlanta, Georgia USA