Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-06-19
BIRTHDAY OF FLAG
Saturday Was 125th Anniversary
Of Old Glory.

D. a. R. fITTlNCLY OBSERVED DAY
Lawn Picnic Held at Home of Mrs. A.
w. Enoch on Woodland Avenue in
Celebration of Event-History of
the American Standard.
Saturday was the one hundred and
twenty-fifth anniversary OF the
birth of the American flag
and in honor of this event
the local chapter of the Daughters
Of the American Revolution gave a
lawn picnic at the home of Mrs. A. w.
Enoch on West Woodland avenue. The
chief aim of this order, that of foster
ing patriotism, makes Flag day of es-
pecial significance to the society and
its yearly celebration is one of the
events in its calendar. The nation
al organization of the D. A. R. is COM
posed of six hundred chapters and
these can boast of 10000 members
The society is continually engaged in
good works and one of it's principle
aims is the perpetuation of the men,
DRY and deeds of the brave heroes of
the revolution.
The Continental Hall.
One of the greatest works brought
about by the national society was the
gift of the statue of Lafayette, pre-
sented to France on July 4, 1900. at
which Mrs. Daniel Manning, presi-
dent general of the D. A. R. at that
time, was commissioned by the Pres.
ident of the United States in accord
ance with the action of the senate to
represent America. An accomplish
ment of the present day is the CONT
mental hall, planned to be erected at
Washington, d. G. This building will
cost 100000 and will stand facing the
executive mansion. The continental
hall is to be meeting place for the
Daughters and here their annual con-
crosses will be held. There will be
committee rooms and business offices
in the building and museum for the
historical relics of the society, many
of which are now deposited in the
Smithsonian institute.
Many historical homes, around
which cluster world of patriotic SEN
timent have been purchased and pre-
served through the instrumentality of
the society. And the Iowa chapters
have not been idle. They have only
recently petitioned the legislature to
raise a monument to the memory of
the only soldier of the Revolutionary
war buried on Iowa soil. The petit
ton has been granted and the monu.
ment will be erected in the near flu
ture.
History of the Flag.
For exactly one century and quar-
ter the starry emblem of America has
fioated over Uncle Sans possessions
on land and seas. Exactly 125 years
ago Saturday Old Glory sprang into
being. This is therefore an important
anniversary of the birthday of the
| flag for 125 years is an unusually long
period for colors to float unchanged
over land.
The history of the American stan
dard, the emblem of the leading re-
public of the world, is full of roman
tic interest The first Stars and
Stripes were made by the 'demure,
sweet-faced Quakeress. Betsey Ross
| in her quaint little home in Philadel-
lphia.
| 1t had been gathered from author
litative sources that to Betsy Ross
was given the title of being the finest
needle worker in America. She en-
broidered the ruffles for Washington's
shirts and in this way the general
came to know Mrs. Ross and feel a
| confidence in her skill with the needle
which led him to seek her out when
| the first American flag was to be
made. What became of the first flag
made by Mrs. Ross is not known, but
the first American flag ever hoisted
over ship of war is preserved in the
| National Museum at Washington. This
was unfurled by the famous Paul
Jones.
The first American flag as made by
Betsy Ross was very different from
the banner of today. One hundred and
twenty-five years ago Saturday the
American congress in session at Phil
adelphia resolved that the flag OF the
United States be thirteen stripes, al.
ternate red and white; the union to
be thirteen stars, white, on blue
field, representing new constella.
ton, the stars to be arranged in Cir
cle.''
Many traditions are afloat as to
what suggested the design for the
Star Spangled Banner, but the one in
t, til is that which credits it to Wash
ington himself. The coat of arms of
the Washington family has two red
bars on white ground and three gilt
| store pyar tho ton har
! The American flag, once decided
upon was rushed through in hurry
for the army was badly in need of a
standard A committee consisting OF
i General Washington, Robert Morris
and Colonel Ross, was appointed to
consider the subject and report on a
general standard for all the troops OF
the colonies. 1t was at the suggestion
of Colonel Morris that the committee
decided to call upon his niece, Mrs.
Ross and ask her assistance in max
ing the first national emblem. She
l enthusiastically undertook the work