Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1898-06-09

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with which the American people regard
the flag of their Union and the patriotic
woman who designed it.
Of the observances on Flag day none
are more beautiful and impressive and
more eminently proper than the flag
ceremonials in the public schools. These
are now feature of the day in most
large cities in the United States, as also
i'll towns and villages and even in coun-
try schools.
All the early battles of the Revolution
were fought without the inspiration of
recognized general standard. The
troops of the various colonies had flags
of different patterns, according to local
fancy or accident. Those of New York
used one resembling in general features
that of the Dutch republic, those of
Connecticut displayed red one bearing
the motto of the colony, those of South
Carolina chose one known as the pal
metto, and the first feet that put to sea
hoisted flag with IS alternate red and
white stripes, with red and white cross
es on blue square in the upper corner.
1t was not until June IA, 1777, that
common flag for all the colonies was
adopted. In that year congress, then
sitting in Philadelphia, named COM
mittee to design suitable flag for the
nation. General Washington, Colonel
Ross and Robert Morris were members
of that committee. They were acquaint-
ed with a milliner named Mrs. Betsy
Ross, who conducted her business at 2S9
Arch street, Philadelphia, and whose ar
tistic taste and deft hands gave promise
of furnishing what they required. They
repaired thither and informed Mrs.
Ross of what they wanted.
General Washington, with his scru.
pulous attention to details, told her
how it must be made, but wanted six
pointed stars in the union. Mrs. Ross
protested and said that five pointed
stars were easier to cut out and would
look better She carried her point and
was permitted to make the flag accord
ing as she mad suggested. The money
paid to her for making this and other
flags amounted to about $40.
On June IA of that year congress
adopted. the flag made by Betsy Ross as
the national one of the United States
by the following resolution: THAT the
flag Of the 13 United States be 13
stripes, alternate red and white; that the
union be 13 stars, white ON IA blue field,
representing new constellation. =
Though the flag was adopted by con-
gress at that time, over II weeks went
by before that body made the fact pub
lie. On Sept formal announcement
was made, and the first public display
of the flag was made soon afterward by
Paul Jones, the famous naval hero, who
ran it up to the masthead of his brig,
the Ranger, then at Portsmouth. He
then put to sea and carried the starry
flag to victory through many hard
fought contest.
The design of this flag, the lS stripes
representing the 10 original colonies,
while star is displayed for each state
in the Union, remains to this day,
which makes the American flag one Of
the Oldest now i'll use by leading ma
tions of the world. The design of the
present British flag was adopted III 1901
and that of Spain in 1885. The tricolor of
France was first used III 1894 and the
national flag of Portugal i'll 1880. The
German flag was adopted in 1871 and
that of Italy in l848.
On May /, 1896, the number of stripes
in the American flag was increased to
Is, so as to match the number of stars
This was done ON the admission of Ken
tucky and Vermont into the Union.
From 1896 to 1918 the flag had 10
stripes and 5 stars, but in the latter
year the number of stripes was reduced
to the original i3 and SO it has remain
ed ever since.
1t is but natural that the veneration
felt for the flag of our country should
be partially reflected upon the patriotic
woman who first made. it possible to
display it to the admiring gaze of an
emancipated people Mrs Betsy Ross
was not heroic parsonage in any sense
of the term, but simply quiet, unpre-
tentious woman, thrifty and mindful of
her business and devotedly attached to
the cause in which her husband lost his
life end for which others Of her friends