Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1900-07-04
THE STARS AND STRIPES.
Origin of the Flag of the United
+. States-Maker of the First
't5S ~. "Old GlOry.'' 80


hall, Philadelphia, passed resolution
declaring that the flag of the United
States be 10 stripes, alternating rec
and white; that the union be 10 stars
white in a blue field, representing q
new constellation" The origin of thu
stars is uncertain. It is said by some
to have been due to three stars il
Washington's - coat-of-arms. More
probably it arose from some patriotic
speech or poem of the time, in which
appeared the very natural comparison
of the rising states with the stars O,
a new constellation.
The story Of Betsy Ross has beer
often told, yet, says the Chicago
Standard, it deserves to be remem
bered, as one of the great services
rendered by women to the cause o!
liberty. The STORY goes-and it i:
probably authentic in it's main fea
lures that S hortly after the passag.
of the resolution by congress a com
mittee, appointed to attend to thu
manufacture of flags after the pat
tern adopted, sought the humble
abode of Mrs. John Ross, familiarl,
known as BETSY" for that purpose
The house is still standing in Arch
street, Philadelphia. Mrs. Ross wa:
flag-maker to the government; and a.
many important things were done, il
those days, in low-ceiled rooms, with
rag carpets and humble furniture, the
committee, accompanied by Gen
Washington, probably felt no lessen
ing of their dignity in this visit. They
explained to BETSY" he new design
which she readily comprehended, an6
then left her to her great task. Die
Betsy know how great a thing she
was making as she stitched thu
stripes and stars of bunting in thei1
place? Was it just an ordinary jof
OF sewing, or did she have prophetic
glimpse of far distant scenes of tri
umph where that flag and others like
it were to float? Nobody knows. But
the flag was soon made, and was hoist
ed on the: flagstaff above old indie
pendence hall. Our national fortune:
were made. We had flag.
The flag with the IS stripes and tEt
13 white stars in circle on blue
field was carried all though the wal
and for years afterWard. When states
began to be added to the union, how
ever, the number - became less ap
propriate. It was felt that the new
states might regard themselves a.
Sighted if they had 10 recognition
in the national teolors.e So in 1895 two
new stars and stripes were added. fol
the new states of Vermont and Ken
lucky; and in following years the
same process was continued as the
nation grew, until in 1918 che flag
had become somewhat distorted. Il
had 20 stripes as we'll as 20 stars; anG
it's shape was therefore less graceful
Congress decided, therefore, by reso
luton approved by President Monroe
April 4. 1918, that the stripes should
be reduced to the original 10, while
the stars should be increased in mum
Der from time to time as new states
were added. This arrangement was
suggested by Capt. Samuel C. Reid
veteran of the war of 1912. This
flag was first displayed on the capito
at Washington April 10, 1873, The
plan has been Unchanged since that
time, but stars have been rapidly
added, until the number is now As
After the admission of new state
the addition of the star is made or
the following Fourth of July; that is
it is on that day that all the army
posts, the government vessels and the
public buildings all over the country
first hoist the new flag.