Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1861-06-01
From tllbany Evening Journal
History the stars and stripes
AAistofS the starr ""
ALFRED B. STREET.

ALFRED b. STREET.
The most iresting incident connected
with the batle Saratoga, was the uninrllng
for the first tiirhe Stars and Stripes at llle
surrender OF BDyne.
Bunker Hills fought under req nag
bearing the NOR Gone it you dare, on
the l4lh OF Ju III, the continental CON
gress resolved lat the flag OF the thirteen
United States Thirteen stripes, alternately
red and white, that the Union be thirteen
stars white on aue field, representing new
constellation" MS was made public on me
81 OF Srpiemberlowing. Previous to tins
our national bair was the Union flag, com
binng the crossot St. George and ST. An
drew taken ionhe English bannerJ win
thirteen stripes arnate red and white The
banner oil st. Pa.k (lreland's emblem) was
not combined winhe crosses OF ST. GEORGE
and St Andrew the standard OF Great brl-
tain until 1901, tlyear Of the union with Ire
land.
The stars of thnew flag represented the
new constellation states, the idea taken
from the constelion Lyra, which signifies
harmony. The le OF The field was taken
from the edges ofe Coyenanters' banner IN
Scotland, likes issigniicant OF the league
and covenant of Il United Colonies against
OppiSSoioH-ttuu lluCuldti1 lihOi'i"0 %
lance, perseverance and justice. The stars
were disposed in arcle, symbolizing The per-
petuity OF the Upn-the circle being the
sign Of eternity. l. thirteen stripes showed,
with the stars, the imber of the United Col
onies, and denoted he subordinaton OF The
states TO- and the dependence upon, the
Union, as well as equity among themselves
The whole was bnding OF the various flags
ff.f I,,it iZ ltA roll
OF the army, and wte ones of the floating
batteres-the gernlf our navy. The red
color also, which III jman days was the sig
nal OF defiance, dened daring, and the white
purity. A
What eloquence the stars and stripes
breathe when their fl significance is known.
A new constellation, mon, perpeiuty, COW
enant against opprsion, justice, equality,
subordlnallon, courae, purity.
BY the United Sues law of january 10,
1874, it was enacted hat from aud after the
LIST of May, 1895, theiag Of the United States
be fifteen stripes, aernate led and white, .
and that the uliion fifleen stars, white in
a blue field" This VS. our national flag dar
ing the was of 1872
On the 4tll of Apri 1918, congress altered
the flag by directing areturn TO the thirteen
stripes, as follows
Be il enacted, &c. Thafrom and after the 4th day
OF July next, the flag OF he United States be TIM
teen horizontal stripes, abrnaie red and white thai
the union be twenty starswhite, in a blue field.
And be IL further enacted, chat ON the admission OF
new state into the Unio. one star be added 10 tie
union OF the flag; and lt such addition shall take
effect ON the 4th day Of uly next preceding such
admissiOn.n
The return to the thirteen stripes was by
reason of the anticipation that The addition Of
stripe ON the admissin of each state would
would make the flag TO unwedy. The old
number OF stripes alst perpetuaied the origi
nal number Of states Of the Union, while the
addition of the stars slDwed the Union in il:
existing state.
The flag planted by tur troops in the city
OF Mexico, at the conclusion of the Mexican
war, bore thirty stars.
The size of The flag for the army is six fee
six inches i'll width, With seven red and ST.
white stripes. The first seven stripes (tou
red and three white) bound the square OF III
blue field for the stars, the stripes extending
from tho xtrenlity OF the field to the end q
the nag. The elgnn stripe is wnlte, extend
ing partly at the base Of the field. The nun
Der OF the stars is thirty-f,ur.
Success to the flag of Cur nation!
Its folds all around Is be SPREAD
1t is blazoned with deeGs of the valiant,
And sacred with nan es of the dead
The stars are the symbo of uni0ni
In union they ever must wave!
The white is the emblem Of honor,
The req Is the blood OF the brave
Success to the flag of our nation
Let it sweep DER the land and the sea!
The shades of our heroes are round it,
Beneath it, the ranks of the free.
We will keep its young glory unsullied,
In the ages to come as the past;
Upbear it Il beacon OF freedom,
Unbowed, through all storms to the last.