Flag Day is not a federal holiday. June 14 is designated as Flag Day under federal law, and the President issues a proclamation each year, but the date does not appear on the statutory list of legal public holidays. Federal offices stay open, the Postal Service delivers mail, banks keep normal hours, and the stock exchanges trade on their regular schedule.
Observance vs. Holiday: Why the Distinction Matters
Federal law designates June 14 as Flag Day and directs the President to call on government officials to fly the flag on all federal buildings and on citizens to mark the anniversary of the flag’s adoption by the Continental Congress on June 14, 1777. That is the full reach of the statute. It creates a named observance and a proclamation tradition, not a day off.1Justia Law. US Code Title 36 – 110 Flag Day
Congress has recognized dozens of observances, awareness months, and commemorative days on the calendar. Only eleven of those carry the legal weight of a public holiday under the statute governing federal employee pay and leave. Flag Day is not one of them.
The Eleven Federal Holidays
The days that actually close federal offices are set by a single statute:2Office of the Law Revision Counsel. US Code Title 5 – 6103 Holidays
- New Year’s Day, January 1
- Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr., third Monday in January
- Washington’s Birthday, third Monday in February
- Memorial Day, last Monday in May
- Juneteenth National Independence Day, June 19
- Independence Day, July 4
- Labor Day, first Monday in September
- Columbus Day, second Monday in October
- Veterans Day, November 11
- Thanksgiving Day, fourth Thursday in November
- Christmas Day, December 25
When one of these holidays falls on a Saturday, federal employees on a standard Monday-through-Friday schedule observe it on the preceding Friday. When it falls on a Sunday, the following Monday becomes the observed holiday.2Office of the Law Revision Counsel. US Code Title 5 – 6103 Holidays June 14 is absent from the list.
What Stays Open on June 14
Because Flag Day is not a federal holiday, the practical impact on your day is minimal. Federal government offices remain open on their normal schedules. The U.S. Postal Service delivers mail. Banks and credit unions keep regular hours; the Federal Reserve does not list June 14 among its closures.3Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Holiday Schedule
Financial markets trade normally. The New York Stock Exchange does not close for Flag Day, and June 14 does not appear on its holiday calendar.4NYSE. Holidays and Trading Hours
Schools, courts, and private businesses follow their standard schedules. No federal law and no broadly applicable state law requires employers to give workers the day off or pay a premium for working on Flag Day.
The Pennsylvania Exception
Pennsylvania is the only state that treats Flag Day as a legal state holiday. It has held that distinction since 1937, when it became the first state to give the day official recognition, twelve years before Congress passed the federal Flag Day designation in 1949.5Department of Veterans Affairs. The Origins of Flag Day If you work for the Pennsylvania state government, your schedule may differ. Everywhere else, June 14 is a regular workday.
Outside Pennsylvania, many communities mark the day with parades, flag-raising ceremonies, and events at schools and veterans’ organizations. These are locally organized rather than government-mandated, so what happens on June 14 varies by place.
Displaying the Flag on June 14
The U.S. Flag Code names Flag Day as one of the days the flag should be displayed, alongside federal holidays and other notable dates such as Armed Forces Day and Constitution Day.6Office of the Law Revision Counsel. US Code Title 4 – 6 Time and Occasions for Display The customary practice is to fly it from sunrise to sunset on outdoor flagstaffs, or around the clock if it is properly lit after dark. The Flag Code is advisory and carries no penalties for violations. The presidential proclamation issued each year is what formally directs federal buildings to fly the flag on June 14.1Justia Law. US Code Title 36 – 110 Flag Day