Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-06-15
STORY OF THE FLAG
Old Glory Extolled by the
School Children.
ORIGIN OF FLAG DAY
EXERCISES HELD THROUGHOUT
THE DISTRICT TODAY.
Addresses by Representatives of the G..
A. r. and Others-The Pro-
grams Observed.
ORIGIN OF FLAG DAY

| L pledge allegiance to my flag and the
| republic for which it stands One country
indivisible now and forever, with liberty
and justice for ALL"
| The fifty thousand children of the public
schools of the District gathered today be-
| meath the fold of the nations starry ensign
\ and with one accord recited the pledge to
| the flag as a token Of the reverence they
| feel for the banner. in the celebration of its
| l26th birthday. The annual custom of OBJ
serving June IA Flag day has been in
| vogue In the District for nearly ten years
| and each year the anniversary has been OBJ
| served with increased reverence. At no
| time IN the history of the country has the
| love of the flag had more enthusiastic ex-
| preston than was given it today by the
| school children.
| 1t has not been so long comparatively
| tnae the custom OF celebrating Flag day
! has been observed. but the custom is so
| firmly established not only here but in
| other states that 1t will be feature in the
future with growing popularity. until 1t
| becomes second only in Importance to that
| other great national occasion, the Fourth of
July.
From this the northern states took up .he
custom, although it was not adopted ex-
| tenslvely. Col. Balch died in the early
eighties, and, as one of his last wishes re-
| quested an old soldier friend in Indiana to
| do what he could to secure the universal
adoption of the Flag day celebration. This
old veteran was not able to proceed with
| bers Of the Women's Relief Corps an aua
| 1liary of the G. A. r., to assist him. In
accordance with this request the matter
was taken up by the corps, and in 1895 Mrs.
lon of
| sentiment in favor of celebratin the day,
and big meeting was held on the Flag
day or that year. Through Mrs. Balls
eHorts also the Flag day exercises were
nave been part of the root and branch of
the school system ever since
Universal Recognition.
Since the adoption of the custom of cele-
orating the day in this city numerous Oh
ganizations and private individuals have
| taken up the fight to secure universal
recognition of the significance of the day,
| and secure such state legislation as will
set aside June IA a holiday. These eff
forts have been successful in a few of the
states, and the work is still going on.
Practically all the patriotic societies are
working together to bring all the states
into line.
In the District the idea of holding an
extensive celebration in the public schools
has become more and more popular each
year, and the exercises are considered to
be one of the chief features of the school
year. 1t has grown to be the custom for
prominent members of the G. A. r. and
other patriotic societies to be detailed to
speak at each of the schools.
There are 126 school in the District. and
In every one of these today the chill
dren gathered in their assembly halls and
sang the praises of the stars and stripes.
1t has not been possible to obtain pro-
grams Of all the exercises, but in the fol-
lowing will he fOnnd the priOciDa1
of the celebration at a majority of the
school buildings in the city, with the names
of the persons participating:
Normal School.
Franklin-The grown-up scholars of the
normal school at the Franklin building
gathered in the assembly hall to listen to
patriotic addresses and to celebrate as
elaborately as possible the recurrence of
the birthday Of the national ensign. The
exercises were opened with the singing of
America" following which addresses were
delivered by Col c. H. Hill and Mr.. l. M
Brown. The assemblage then sang Keller s
American Hymn and gave the flag salute.
after which THE Star Spangled Banner"
was sung as solo and chorus. The exer-
c.ses were brought to close with the sing
ing of Hail To the Flag
First Division.
Adams-The main feature of the celebra-
the unfurlng of the flag presented to the
school by Mrs. Donald Mclean of New
York. prominent member of the Daugh-
ters of the American Revolution. The flag
was raised to the peak of the fiagpole by
John D. Myers as the assembled pupils
sang 1.-THE Stars and Stripes Forever"
Immediately after the flag was unfurled
Commissioner Macfarland made an address,
in which he traced the history of the flag
and admOni9hpd the nunf1S to hold ;t n
sacred thing. Mr.. A. B. White also made
an address, and the exercises were con-
cluded with the singing of "The Red, White
and Blue" During the celebration Mary
recited "The Flag"
Others who took part in the exercises
were Mildred Koonce, Marjorie Edison and
Beatrice Cameron.
Berret-A composition on the history of
the flag formed the main feature of the
children's celebration of the day at the
Berret School. Patriotic hymns were sung
by the assembled schools and an address
was delivered by Mr.. A. s. Fisk The pro-
gram also included several recttations hv
pupils of the various grades in the building.
Dennison-Music and recitations Joined
the program for the celebration at the Dem
nison School and the address to the pupils
was delivered by Mr.. George H. Slaybaugh.
Those who took part in the celebration
were: Ruth Koontz Jane Fishback F.
Henderson Strawn, Flora Hull Gladys
strong, PendletOn Browne, Marguerite
Muncey. Ida Smith, John Kelley Dorothy
Hanvey, Mildred Thwing, Eleanor Hough.
Dorothy Hillman, Ethel Sunny. Eivie
Elliott.
Force-"Why do we celebrate Flag day?"
was the question asked and answered by
the pupils of the Force School today The
program was very attractive and well pre-
sented A speech on the flag was delivered
by Mr.. B. F. Bracket The pupils who took
part In the exercises We're. Ethel Trow-
bridge, Robert Rafter, Edith Smith, Law
renee Weeks, Arthur Seip, Alma yon
Haake, Emily Sprightly, Ina Singleton:
Cathrine PEBBLES, d'Alary Fechet and Ed
nah Robinson.
Hubbard-The recitation OF a poem, "Our
National Emblem" by four of the pupils of
the first and second grades of the Hubbard
School formed one of the most Interesting
features of the days celebration by the
school children. The little tots were very
much In earnest, and recited their verses
with excellent effect. Mr.. e. ]. Sweet told
the children what the flag meant in a few
well-chosen words, after which an excellent
program was rendered. Those pupils whose
talents were called into service were: Ruth
Van Deman. Earl Ogden. Bernard Shir-
Cliffe. Robert Hill. Alice Coughlin, Roberta
lContinued on Tenth Paee)