On June 14 2025, the National Flag Foundation (NFF) presented an 8′ X 5′ American flag to representatives of the American Battle Monuments Commission at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. It was the beginning of Sojourn 250, an extraordinary campaign tied to the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
The Foundation decided to this single US flag on a global odyssey, more precisely, a pilgrimage, across the world to places where over 200,000 Americans fought and died over the centuries under the banner of the Stars and Stripes.
The idea, says NFF chair Romel Nicholas, is to honor our nation’s most prized symbol, and pay “tribute to all of our countrymen and women, including those who have given their lives in service to the ideals the flag represents.”
“In addition to freedom, liberty and honor,” says Nicholas, “the flag represents the American common ground. Anyone who follows the news knows there’s division everywhere. The flag is something that can bring us together. We want it to touch all Americans.”
First stop was Florence, Italy, where 4,392 Americans lied buried after being killed in action during the ferocious fighting north of Rome in World War II. From there, the flag journeyed to 25 other American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) in Italy, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Great Britain, Philippines, Tunisia, Panama, and Mexico.
The ABMC is partnering with the National Flag Foundation and the National Sheriffs’ Association to shepherd the flag first overseas and then in every U.S. state and territory, with sheriffs escorting the flag through communities nationwide.
The flag has already logged over 40,000 miles with most of the United States still left to go.
After completing its overseas itinerary, the flag returned to U.S. soil in October 2025 and began its journey through the United States under the care of the sheriffs.
Across state capitals, county courthouses, civic events, and solemn observances, the flag’s path invites Americans of every background to pause and reflect. In Mississippi, the flag’s arrival was paired with community events and programs on American history.
People are invited to follow the flag on its sojourn. The NFF has a great interactive map and narrative features. You can track where the flag goes and the stories that are shared along the way.
As spring turns to summer, the flag will begin its final approach back to Washington, D.C., for America’s 250th birthday on July 4, 2026. It will depart Pittsburgh for the nation’s capital in a motorcycle convoy before being presented to the America250 Commission and flown above the U.S. Capitol building.
Then, the flag will become a teaching artifact for the Foundation. The lessons and stories collected during the flag’s travels will likely live on through digital archives, classroom materials, and public exhibits.
