Washington, D.C. – At the direction of Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne, on the Fourth of July the flags of all 50 states will fly beneath the American flags on the 50 flag poles encircling the Washington Monument.
"Our nation's Great Seal contains the motto E Pluribus Unum, Latin for "Out of Many, One. As we celebrate the birth of our one nation on the Fourth of July, it makes sense that we also recognize and celebrate the many states that make up these United States of America," Kempthorne said.
The state flags will fly beneath the 50 American flags, which are already displayed around the monument daily. The state flags will be in place just for the Fourth of July festivities. The Washington Monument already incorporates recognition of the 50 states, with a carved stone from each state inset along the interior of the structure.