Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-09-05
UNWILLING OF THE MONUMENT 70 THE STARS And STRIPES
CONTINUED from first pase.l


him an account In detail of this en-.
Ragement. Coming from him, his
account Of it would have been full OF
Interest for US OF today, hut with the
strange perversity Of fate, Gen. Max
wells house, near Phillipsburg, in New
Jersey, took fire soon after the close OF
the Revolution and all his valuable
papers and correspondence were de.
stroyed We have only the fragments
OF history left, but from them we are
able to testify to the eiflcieacy he
showed as military commander, and
to believe that lie was brave, devoted
man.
The flag OF the United States had its
statutory beginning on June l4th, 1777,
when Congress adopted the following
resolution
Resolved, That the flag of this IL
United States shall be ID stripes,
alternate red and white That the
union be Ii stars, white, In n blue
field. representing a new constellation. "
On August I'd, following, short
skirmish or rally occurred at Fort
Stanwix, New York, in which the
Americans fioated rudely devised flag
intended to represent the ideas en-
bodied In the resolve of Congress-. But
all historians agree that the flag foated
on that occasion was merely an i'm
provised Que, and in no sense COM
plete and regular flag Of the United
States.
The engagement that took place here
on the Sd of September. 177!, was the
first, as believe, after the adoption OF
the flag whore the American forces
were drawn up In line Of battle In front
OF tho opposing army. Presumably the
American forces had flag, or flags, In
their line when presenting themselves
in battle array. The records tell US that
when Washington marched his army
through Philadelphia, on his way to
this place, that 1.-THE music was play
ing and the flags flying" Undoubtedly
these flags had been made after the
pattern set forth in the resolve of Con.
gress of seven weeks before, there hay-
ing been ample time for tho making OF
the flags after the approved pattern,
and that first thought would have been
to furnish them, aH speedily as possi-
BILE, to the main army under Washing
ton, as 1t marched southwark to meet
the invading foe.
TO my mind, 1t is indisputable, that
across yonder to the eastward, beyond
the quiet flowing waters of the Chris
tians, within sight of tho spot upon
which | stand there was borne aloft by
the American column. under the brave
Maxwell, the flag of the 13 United
States with its Ii stars and ID stripes
and that there for the first time it ap-
peared ID the smoke and blood OF bat.
tie. To commemorate that fact we will
uuveil here today this imposing and
befitting monument which you see
before me-
We that are here in the golden sun
shine of this September afternoon. are
enjoying the blessed heritage voucnsafed
to US by the valor and heroisin OF the
Revolutionary patriots. Scenes like this
should serve as an inspiration, and we
should learn new lessons OF patriotism
from the sacrihce and devotion OF our
sires. If from the association OF today
there shall be born within us. resolve
that shall lead us to more exalted
ideals, and to better citizen
ship, then the blood that was
shed in this place l24 years ago,
willnot hive been shed in vain, for,
unitedly, as loyal Delawareans, we will
carry forward, 10 these opening days
OF the twentieth century, the glorious
banner of freedom, serene, content, tri-
umphant, in the hope that government
of the people, by the people, and for
the people, shall not perish from the
earth.
Mr.. Conrad's address was followed
by the pretty ceremony Of unwilling
the monument by Howard DeHaven
Ross, DR., and Francis Allyn Cooch,
Jr., who bear their fathers names.
Chief Justice Lore presented the two
babes to the audience, said they were
of the seventh generation. and an
nounced that NOW our little soldiers
will unveil the monument. The
children pulled two atringe attached TO
the covering Of the stone, the curtain
fell away and the monument was dis.
closed as the crowd applauded and the
band played ''Star Spangled Banner. "
A wreath of roses and cosmos, deco
rated with old gold and blue ribbon,
gift from tho Daughters of the Revo-
luton, was placed on top the memorial
by Master Megear, son OF the post
master at Smyrna.
Miss Emma Lore sang Star Spangled
Banner" accompanied by the band, and
received applause.
PREsEN rATIoN OF THE MONUMENT.
Hon. J. Wilkins Coooh presented the
monument to the State of Delaware,
his presentation address being as fol-
lows:
Mr.. Chairman, ladies and gentlemen
A year ago you visited this spot and
selected sits to mark tho place where
our flag was first unfurled in battle.
To-day We welcome you again and pre-.
sent to you the result of our work
which hhs been done under the aus
pices, and through the liberalIty of our
patriotic societies and citizens.
We are proud of the history OF our
little State proud of the part our
Grave ancestors took In the struggle
for liberty proud of the fact thas ahe
was the first to adopt the Constitution;
and proud of the fact that on her soil,
this flag of the ID struggling colonies
with its ID stars, and 10 stripes, was
first raised as the emblem of liberty.
Our forefathers "builded better than
they knew" and although they seemed
endowed with wisdom and grasp OF
the capabilities of their infant country
that is hard for us to understand, do
not think that in their widest enthusi-
asm they ever imagined what giant
in growth and power their child would
become in century ard quarter,
nor the respect and veneration their
flag would inspire, whenever and
wherever it's beautiful colore were
thrown TO the breeze; or how the down
trodden of all nations would look to it
as the children of Israel looked to the
brazen serpent that through its healing
4 s..k r.