The Federal Way Soroptimist Club will host the city’s annual Flag Day celebration on Saturday, June 17.

Keynote speaker Congressman Adam Smith will address the event, which takes place from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the King County Aquatic Center. The free event will recognize veterans, service members and first responders.

Soroptimist member Lynne Schow, who wanted Federal Way to be known as “Flag City,” was inspired decades ago to place flags up and down Campus Drive, and the club dedicated those flags on Flag Day 1990, city council member and Soroptimist Susan Honda said.

“We hold an annual celebration in Federal Way to celebrate the American Flag and keep Lynne Schow’s dream alive,” she said.

Flag Day, celebrated on June 14, commemorates the adoption of the flag of the United States in 1777. It is also the birthday of the U.S. Army. While not an official federal holiday, Flag Day is celebrated yearly around the country.

The city has been cleaning, repairing and swapping out its flags to prepare for the event, Honda said.