The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-07-19
'GmquirS@S About the Flag

IT he UNITED STATES FLAG has
been the theme Of speech and
story for more than a century.
Although much has been said and writ
ten of its inception. adoption and
meaning the American people seem
never TO tire Of the subject. and the
members Of congress and the heads Of
the great executive departments at
Washington are constantly receiving
communications requesting information
respecting the national emblem.
Perhaps unusual interest has been
aroused among the people because of
the more general observance of Flag
day in the public schools. or they have
been brought TO think Of the flag and
for what il stands by the enlarged i'm
portance of the United States as a
world power resulting from the war
with Spain. The inspiring strains of
Sousa's Stars and Stripes Forever"
too, have doubtless contributed in no
small degree in arOusing interest in the
subject. but the long deferred acquies-
cence of the public in the adoption OF
Francis Scott Keys beautiful star
Spangled Banner" as the national an
them appears TO have been the finish
ing touch necessary 20 stir the heart
and pulse of the masses of the people
10 a proper appreciation of their beau
tiful and symbolic flag.
Quite recently. says the Washington
star. Senator Hoar addressed an auto
graph letter TO the war department,
requesting, in behalf of a most est
mable lady OF Massachusetts. a teacher
in one of the public schools. a full de-
scriptiOn OF the American flag as au-
thorized by law and custom; the law
ful number of stripes and the proper
color. and what the Union Jack means
also requesting information as to what
is the lawful American coat-of-arms.
Replying thereto. the secretary of
war transmitted a copy OF a mem
Orandum prepared under the direction
Of the Quartermaster general of the
army. descriptive of the several flags
carried by the army of the United
safes. together with a description OF
the Union Jack and the seal OF the
United States. procured. respectively.
from the navy department and the de-
partment Of state.
All this official information has been
embodied by james II. Churchill OF the
secretary's office into a circular letter,
which is now invariably used i'm re
spending to requests for information
regarding the flag, the Union Jack and
the seal Of the United States. Accord
ing to these records, the American con-
gress in session at Philadelphia. Pa.
established by its resolution adopted
June "a. 1771, a national flag as fol-
lows:
THAT the flag of the thirteen United
States be thirteen stripes. alternate red
and white: that the Union be thirteen
stars. white in blue field. represent
ing a new constellation"
The use OF the thirteen stripes was
not a new feature. as they had been
used. in alternate white and blue. ON
the upper left hand corner OF "A stand
ard presented to the Philadelphia Light
Hose by it's captain i'm the early part
OF 1715, and, moreover. the Union flag
OF the thirteen united colonies raised
at WashingtOn's headquarters at Cam
bridge JAN .. 17I6. had the thirteen
stripes just as they appear i'm the flag
this day: but il also had the crosses OF
ST. George and St. Andrew on a blue
ground I'm a corner. instead OF The thir-
teen stars No satisfactory evidence
has ever been produced to prove that
a flag bearing the union OF the stars
and stripes had been i'm public use prior
TO the resolution of June. 1777.
Tt is claimed that Mrs. John Ross OF
Philadelphia was the maker OF the
first flag combining the stars and
stripes. Her descendants assert that a
committee Of congress, together with
General Washington. engaged her in
June. 1875. 70 make a flag from a rough
drawing. which. at her suggestion, was
redrawn by General Washington with
pencil IN her back parlOr. and the flag
thus designed was adopted by congress
Although the resolution establishing
the flag was not officially promulgated
until Sept. 3. 1T77. il is well authenti-
Gated that the stars and stripes were
carried at the battle OF Brandywine,
Sept. II. 17T. and thenceforward dur
ing ali the battles Of the revolution,
T6s shla Ranger. bearing the stars