Massive American flag being carried down Pennsylvania Avenue in 1932, with the U.S. Capitol rising in the background. Hundreds of people are needed just to keep the flag moving, turning it into the main event of the parade. The country was deep in the Great Depression at the time, and scenes like this were meant to reinforce a sense of unity and pride when everyday life was uncertain. Civic groups regularly organized parades and public displays to remind people of shared traditions and national identity.