Officially adopted on June 14, 1777, the Stars and Stripes has weathered 226 years of American history. As the nation celebrates Flag Day this Saturday, Roll Call takes a look at Congressional Flag Office sales.

The office, which was created in 1937, sells American flags that have been raised above the Capitol; purchasers can specify a date or occasion to be included on the official certificate that comes with the flag. Flags, available in three sizes and two fabrics, range in price from $17 to $29.25. Flag sales — which have averaged about 100,000 in recent years — generally go up in times of war. After Sept. 11, 2001, the flag office even ran out of flags. There’s no word yet on how the war in Iraq has affected flag sales this year.

— Sarah Bouchard