Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-06-13
FIau Day, Tomorrow.

June IA is a day not on our list OF
whose observance in one simple and
significant respect our patriotic so
cieties are united in urging. 1t is the
anniversary of the congressional adop-
ten in 1777 of our national emblem.
n 1887, after 126 years had passed, the
American Flag Association was formed
to promote reverence for and prevent
the dissertation of the flag, and Incl
deHtally to remind people that June IA
Should be remembered a. the birthday
Of the ha:.
It was OF June IA, III, century and
a quarter ago, tomorrow, that Con-
gress enacted: That the flag of the
thirteen United States be thirteen
stripes. alternate red and white; that
the union be thirteen stars. white in a
blue field. representing a new con-
stellati With the admission of new
state. the number of stripes were in
creased, and then dawned upon our
fathers the certain future expansion Of
our country, and the original thirteen
stripes were unchangeably restored on
April 4, 1918, when it was enacted by
congress: That from and after the
fsurth day of July next, the nag of the
Emitted States be thirteen horizontal
stripes. alternate red and white; that
the Union be twenty stars, white in a
hlus field. and that on the admission of
a new state into the Union one star be
added to the union of the flag; and that
such addition take effect on the fourth
mission" Since 1918 star after star
has been added as state after state has
been added to the Union, until we now
aunber Al in ALL
The Civil war of 1s61-5 gave new
meaning to our flag. 1t had had
reverence before the sake of revolu-
tisnary memories. Since that strus-
gle to peIpetuate the Union as in
aisseluble, it has become the symbol
Of mighty nation. Later yet, as a
sequence te the Spanish-American
war. vaged for the sake of humanity
asa civilization and liberty, it has
seea carried to the uttermost part. of
the earth, the herald of civilization,
ret that OF the dark ages, nor OF the
times that tolerated cruelty and op-
preston. 1t carries the promise of the
been thrown to the breeze. No Ameri-
can cal, fail of feeling pride and salts
faction. nor restrain the swelling of
patriotism in the breast. when he con-
tra.t- the circumstances and the
premises manifested to distant peoples
in distant lands when ours and other
aa.s have been displayed together
In il. annual circular, the American
Fla: Association, which numbers
President Roosevelt, General Howard,
Admiral Schley, General Miles and
Seaeral Grant among its officers, says:
We earnestly exhort our citizens TO
ieia in making the celebration of Flag
say thi. year. 1902, an event of note.
Let us all see that the stars and stripes,
with all they mean. shall on June IA,
1852. greet the rising and salute the
settin. sun: Sc. that the flag flies from
every church edifice, school sad public
builSins, and from every private
dwelling however humble. throughout
the entire land. The public schools
ssme a. required by law. but none the
less heartily, also in private schools
exercises will be conducted in celebra-
ten of Flag day. We urge the exten-
sion Of this patriotic practice. Let IL:
hs grateful and thus express our graft
ture at this hopeful omen for the flu
tire of our American institutions. tina
the generation Of youth now fitting fol
usefulness will be generatlo!
sckeeled ia patriotism.