Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-09-21
nonors 10 The FLAG.


the playing of the Star Spanglet
Banner as the. finale is the correct
thing, and is generally observed in al
the larger theatres and at open air con.
certs. 1t is very pretty thing and is
an evidence Of the general growth Of
patriotism in this country during tho
last few years. 1t was largely brought
about by the efforts Of the Grand Army
and the Sons Of Veterans; but espec.
tally the former. forget just how /,
happened but some officer proposed
that the flag should fly from ever,
schoolhouse. I think President Harri.
son publicly endorsed the idea and /,
was taken up and has pretty general,
extended all over the country. 1t is
seldom that you see schoolhouses now
without a flagpole in front of them
and. if in session, the flag is flying from
it..
This continual sight of the flag fly
ing is a great thing to impress people
1t was only a little time ago that 1 saw
pretty young lady just back from
Europe. She told me how every Ameri-
can going abroad now carries the flag:
either miniature one or the little bow
knot flag which so many people wore
in the last campaign. She told me that
an Englishman told her that he could
MT understand why the Americans
showed so much admiration for their
flag everywhere in Europe. And yet
outside the national flag of the country
you may happen to be in, you seldom
see any other on the buildings. I sup.
pose the Englishman thought no other
nation had any right to be patriotic
excepting his own.
Speaking of that do you know that
inhabitants of the United States are
the only Americans there are? No one
in foreign lands ever speaks of a Mexi-
can or Canadian by the name Ameri-
can. Each one takes his cognomen from
his country; but the man from the
tinent and is recognized everywhere as
the American"
But to return to the flag, what
want to call your attention to is the
honors that are paid to it. Didn't you
notice when the militia was here in
August how the boys took off their
hats when they passed the flags hung
out on the street? And, then, I saw
Captain Dodd and his men were very
careful to show proper respect to every
flag they passed. Well, this all means
that there are regular forms observed
in the army to do honor to the flag.
The carrying of the regimental and
national flags under an escort to their
proper place in the line is always made
an occasion of honor to the flag, and it
is the position of honor to be the com
pany selected to escort the colors. ri
many camps muskets are stacked in a
line and across the two central stacks
are extended the flags. This forms tn,
color line, and every person, soldier or
civilian, is obliged to take off his hat
when crossing it. If he does not the
sentry will knock it off and in some
garrisons il will cause arrest.
You will notice that regular army
officers and men and naval officers al
ways remove their hats when other
troops are passing, when the colors
pass; and all sentries present arms to
colors passing post.
There is a ceremony called swear
ing allegiance to the flag, which is 4
very pretty military form,and is usual
ly gone through for the benefit of re-
cruits. The regiment is formed in I,
hollow square with colors displayed
After the colonel delivers a few words
on the duties to the flag, every head is
uncovered, and with right hands raised
officers and men swear to honor and
defend the flag.
But by far the most interesting
sight is at the end of the military day
Just as the sun sets, the soldiers pre-
sent arms and as the band plays slow
ly and softly The Star Spangled Ban
ner,' the flag is slowly run down from
| the staff while every officer and mar
| excepting those in line stands with
head uncovered, and every sentry faces
out with presented arms. 1t is the pro
per thing for every man and woman ir
camp to stand during this ceremony
and for the men to uncover their heads
The change in the American peop!e
in their desire to honor their flag has
been most marked in the last few
years. You even see many people stan
in the theatres when the orchestra
plays the Star Spangled Banner as
last piece, and in the public schools OF
many cities both boys and girls ar
taught to salute the flag on the school
| house as they pass it. But few years