Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1861-06-14

HISTORY or THE STARS AND STRIPES.
The most interesting incident connected
with the battle of Saratoga was the unfurl-
ing for the first time the stars and stripes
at The surrender Of Burgoyne. Bunker Hill
was fought under red flag bearing the
MOTTO" Come if you dare" button the lth
OF June, 1777, the Continental Congress
resolved :" that the flag of the thirteen
United States be thirteen stripes, alternate
red and white, and that the Union be thr-
teen stars; white on blue field, represent
ing new constellation" This was made
public on the third Of September following
Previous to this our national banner was
the Union flag combining the crosses of st
George and St. Andrew (taken from the
English banner) with thirteen stripes alter
nate red and white. The banner of St.
Patrick orchards embem) was not com
bincd with the crosses OF st. George and
st. Andrew in the standard of Great Brit
ain until the year of the Union with Ire
land.
The stars Of the new flag represented the
new constellation of states, the idea taken
from the constellation Lyra, which signifies
harmony. The blue of the field was taken
ironi the coyenanters' banner in Scotland.
likewise significant Of the league and cove
nant of the united colonies against oppres.
sion, and incidentally involving vigilance,
perseverance and justice. The stars were
disposed in circle, symbolizing the perpe-
tuity OF the Union, the circle being the
sign of eternity. The thirteen stripes
showed, with the stars, the number of the
united colonies, and denoted the subordin-
alton Of the states TO and their dependence
upon the Union, as well as an equality
among themselves. The whole was blend
ing OF the various flags previous to the Un.
ion flag, viz: the red flags of the army ana
white ones of the floating batteries-the
germ of our navy The red color also,
which in Roman days was the signal OF de-
fiance, denoted daring, and the white purity.
What eloqnence do the stars aud stripes
breathe when their full significance is
known. z new constellation union; per-
pciuiiy; a covenant against oppression
justice; equality; subordination courage
purity.
BY the United States law Of January Is.
1894, il was enacted that from and after
the lst Of May, 1875, the flag of the Uaited
States be fifteen stripes. alternate red aud
white and that the Union be fifteen stars.
white in a blue field" This was our ma.
tional flag during the war Of 1912.
On the ith of April, 1918, Congress al
tered the flag by directing return 10 The
thirteen stripes, as follows -
BE it enacted, Nc., That from and after
the 18th of July next, the Gag Of lie Tnitel
States be thirteen horizontal stripes. alier-
nate red and white that the Union be
twenty stars, white, in blu. fi,.la.
.. Aud be il further enacted. That on the
admission Of d new state into the Union.
one star be added to the union OF the fac
and that such addition shall take effect On
the 4th day of July next succeeding such
admission"
The return to the Thirteen stripes was by
reason Of the anticipation that tie addition
Of stripe on the admission OF each s,ate
would make the flag too unwieldy. The
old number of stripes also perptetaated the
original number Of states Of he Union.
while the addition Of the stars shovel the
Union IN its existing state.