Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1861-10-17
History Of the stars and stripes.
BY ALFRED y. STREETS,

bI d.
The most interesting incident connec-
ted with the battle Of Saratoga was un-
furling for the the first time the Stars and
Stripes at the surrender Of Burguoine.
Bunker hill was fought under red
flag bearing the motto "come If you
dare" but on the l4th Of June, iii,
the Continental Congress resolved that
the flag Of the thirteen United States be
thirteen stars, white on blue field, rep.
resenting new ccnste lAtion. This
was made public on the 3D. Of September
following. Previous to this our national
banner was the Union flag. combining
the cross Of st George and st Andrew
(taken from the Engi.h banner) with
thirteen stripes alternate red and white.
The banner OF St. Patrick (Ireland's
emblem was not combined with the stan
dard of Great Britain until 1901, the
year the union with Ireland.
The stars Of the new flag, represented
the new constellation Lyra, which signi.
fes harmony. The blue of the field was
taken from the Covenanters' banner in
Scotland, likewise significant of the
league and covenant Of the United Colo.
nies against oppression and incidentally
involving vigilance, perseverance and
justice. The stars were disposed in a
circle being the sign Of eternity. The
thirteen stripes showed, with the stars,
the number Of the subordination Of the
States to and their dependence upon the
Union, as well as equality amang them
selves. The whole was blending Of
the various flags previous to the Union
flag, viz: the red flag of the army anil
white ones of the floating batteries--thc
germ of our navy. The red color, also,
which in Rnman days was the signal oi
defence, denoted daring, and the white
purity.
What eloquence do the Stars and
Stripes breathe when their full signif
canoe is known. A new Constellation; !;
Union; Perpetuity; covenant against
oppression; Justice; Equality; Subordi-
nation; Courage, and purity.
By the United States law of January
13, 1894, it was enacted "that from and
alter the 1st Of May, 1895, the flag Of
the United States be fifteen stripes alter
nate red and white" and "that the Un-
ion be fifteen stars. white in blue field"
This was our national flag during the
war of 1912.
On the 4th of April, 1918, Congress
altered the flag 10y directing return to
the thirteen stripes as follows:
"Be it enacted, DC, That from and
after the 4th day of July next, the flag oI
the United States be thirteen horizontal
stripes. alternate red and white; that the
union be twenty stars, white in blue
field.
"And be it further enacted, That or
, the admission OF a new State into tn
Union, one star be aided to the Uniol
of the flag; and that such addition shall
take effect on the 4ih of July next sue
ceeding such admission"
The return to the thirteen stripes wa
by reason of stripe on the admission o
each State, would mako the flag too un
wieldly; the old number of stripes alsc
perretuated the original number o
States ofthe Union, while the addition
OF the stars showed the Union in its exs-
ting state.
The flag planted by our troops in the
city of Mexico at the conclusion Of The
war bore thirteen stars.
The size of the flag for the army is 81,
feet six inches in length by iour feet -four
inches in width, with seven red ant
six white stripes; the first seven stripe
-four red and three white } bound thu
square of the blue field for the stars; the
stripes extend from the extremity of thu
field to the end of the flag; the eight
stripe is white, extending partly at th'
base of the field; the number Of tn
stars is thirty four.
Success to TIC flag of our nation!
| ts folds all around us be spread!
1t is blazoned with deeds of the valiant.
And sacred with the names of the dead,
The stars are the symbols of Union:
In Union they ever must wave.
The white is the blcm of honor,
=. The red is the blood of the brave.
Success to the flag Of our Nation.
Let it sweep DER the land and the sea!
ThA shade of our heroes around it,
Beneath it the ranks Of the Free.
We will keep its young glory unsullicd,
In the age to come as the past
Uprearit. n beacon of Freedom,
Unbowcd, through all storms to the last.