Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1900-06-29
USED ONLY BY THE PRESIDENT.
Flags That Belong Exclusively to the Ma
tion's Executive.

new lOrk
The flag outfit of United States
naval vessel is so elaborate that the
bit OF blue bunting bearing the arms
of the United States, though seldom
seen in its place at the main, would
hardly attract passing attention, yet
it would indicate the presence aboard
of the President of the nation, and the
ceremony of hosting it would impress
one. Amid rufile OF drums, flourishes
OF bugles, the national air by the band
and the firing of a national salute the
Presidents flag is run up at the main
whenever the chief executive of the ma
tion sets foot aboard ship of the
navy. This ceremony, which has
been little used except when official
functions were frequent, while Will
liam c. Whitney was Secretary of the
navy, is of somewhat recent origin,
dating from Aug 10, 1882, when Will
liam G.. Chandler, Secretary OF the
Navy, issued the order adding the
Presidents flag to the paraphernalia
of the navy.
Still more recent is the ceremonial
indication OF the presence of the Presi-
dent at military camp or army post.
At the outbreak Of the war with
Spain, Frederick ID. Owen, while pre-
pairing some maps for the warroom in
the white house, recalled remark of
his chief, Colonel Theodore A. Bing-
ham, that the President had no army
flag. He sketched a design for such
flag on a map OF the Philippine group
which he had just completed and was
requested to submit the design in
colors. 1t met the approval of General
Miles, Secretary Alger and the Presi-
dent and an order was issued making
it the official army flag of the Presi-
dent. the complement of his naval
flag. This was in March, 1898, and
the first flag made from the design
was first used upon the occasion of
the visit Of President Mckinley to the
peace jubilee in Chicago.
The number OF the original States
OF the union figures in the symbolism
of the Presidents army flag. It's
field is thirteen feet long, the hoist
being eight feet. and thirteen stars in
constellation, grouped as though
breaking through clouds, represent
national emergence from war to peace.
The eagle holds an olive branch of
thirteen leaves in his beak, with thir-
teen fruits in his left talon and thir-
teen arrows in his right. Besides this
the national legend, "E Pluribus
Unum," emblazoned on the flag, has
thirteen letters, and the general order
of the army that gave the standard it's
official status was No. 13, issued
March %, 1898.
Forty-tive white stars, one for each
State, surround and protect the large
central star, which indicates the
executive, nine stars being placed in
each OF the five re.entering angles OF
the large star. There is also a white
star in each corner of the field. The
ground of the flag is scarlet, and the
center of the large star is blue and
contains the official coat OF arms of
the United States OF department OF
State design.
The original army flag Of the Presi-
dent is magnificent specimen OF
needlework, in silk and gold. 1t is
preserved, encased in glass, in the
executive mansion at Washington.
The flags actually used in the army
when the President is present as COM
mander in chief OF the nations land
forces are just one-half the size Of the
original flag and are made of bunting.