The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1897-06-17
OUR CoUNTRY's FLAG.
Continued From Page -


advisable by the leading men Of the
United Colonies for them to adopt
some standard ensign to represent
that nation. whose foundation they had
already begun to lay.
It may be said, with truth, that few
if any national emblems have gone
through the alterations our own has.
On that memorable morning of the
second of January 1776, for the first
time, an American emblem was I'M
furled before the camp of enthusiastic
Americans, near Boston. This flag
had thirteen stripes, alternate red and
white, representing the thirteen origi-
nal colonies, but. it still retained the
union of the British standard namely
the crosses of st. George and st. An
drew, on blue background.
Previous to this time, nothing in the
way of an emblem was used, except
one called a Union flag, which was
simply the British standard with some
motto such as " Liberty and Union"
incribed on its field.
Whether or not any flag was dis
played in the famous battle of Bunker
Hill, is not known, with certainty; but
traditionssays such a one was and that
it bore the tantalizing inscription,
+" Come if you dare" and although
they dared, and although the men who
carried that banner were repulsed, it
showed they were fully capable Of
maintaining their rights and their
chosen flag.
Soon after the Declaration of the
Continental Congress, which was read
in the American camp, then encamped
OH Prospect Hill, and which gave the
causes and necessity Of taking up arms
against their mother country, General
Putnam displayed a flag, which was
said to have come from the Connecticut
COLONY, red in color and bearing the
Inscription, Qui transtulit, sustinet.
During the same year Massachusetts
adopted a flag whose field was white,
on which was displayed a pine tree and
the words, An Appeal to Heaven, :"
taken from the closing paragraph of
the g Address of the Provincial Con-
gress of Massachusetts" to their
brethren in Great Britain.
Again, during the same year, thefor-
tifcations Of South Carolina showed a
flag which had blue background,
broken only by white crescent. A
little later, in this same year, the first
naval standard was chosen. This was
yellow and had a rattlesnake in the act
of striking, represented on its surface,
and below this the warning: "DOn't
Tread on Me-" These were but few
words, but it showed the American
people were determined to resent any
thing which might be considered op-
pressive by them.
Following the continental standard,
which was displayed on Jan. 2, 1776,
came one adopted June IA, 1777, by a
resolution of congress. This, also, had
thirteen stripes, alternate red and
white, but the Union was thirteen
white stars on a field of blue-to repre-
sent, as it was said, the new conatella-
ton. Today our national flag is the
same, except instead of thirteen stars,
the blue field now holds forty five, "a
true sign of prosperity in our fair land.
Closely associated with this honored
flag of ours, deep in the heart of every
true American, are those who risked
and who gave their lives, that this self
same flag might, forever, as it has and
does, float DER the
Land OF the free and the home of the brave.
Miss Grace M. Fosdick then read the
history of the Woman's Relief Corps.
For the present this essay is crowd
ed out for lack of room.-ED.
Miss Heating read Sheridan's
Ride" in a very acceptable way, and
then M. Ell. Bacon read the . History Of
the G.. A. R." The essay was an ex-
cellent exposition of the organization
and corrected some false impressions
concerning =. Owing to the lack of
space this essay will be laid over to
some future time.-ED.
Following this came that most beau
tiful thing, the flag drill, by twenty
four little girls. They went through
various maneuvers in perfect time,
greatly to the delight Of the audience.
The little girls were encored heartily
and responded by presenting a double
row across the stage and saluting the
audience.
Immediately upon the close of this
Commander Boyington mounted the
stage, and with neat speech, present
ed a silk flag to Miss Northway on be-
half of the G.. A. r. post for her efforts
in drilling the children in so patriotic a
manner.
81. II. Bacon then presented the first
prize, a silk flag, to Miss Wiswall, for
her essay. Peter Fisher presented the
second prize, +" The Battle of the Will
derness,u to Miss Adamson and the