Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-06-07
KANSAS RIVERS REACH
HIGHEST POINT KNOWN
in PAST TWENTY YEARS.
RALLY TO THE FLAG
JUNE ID is ANNIVERSARY OF THE
BIRTH OF THE AMERICAN
FLAG.

anniversary of the birth of the United
States flag will occur on June IA. I'm
der a heading Rally to the Color" Col.
S. A. Moore of the Grand Army of the
Republic, special aide in Charge of
Patriotic Education in Schools, has is
sued a circular calling attention to
this anniversary and urging the univers-
al exhibition of the flag on that day.
The article is as follows:
"RalIy to the Color"
The near approach of June Ia should
remind every patriotic citizen that the
one hundred and twenty-seyenth ami
versary of the birth of the United
States flag should be recognized and
observed.
For more than century and quar-
ter this flag has triumphantly floated
in honor-a beautiful token of perfect
liberty. 8t $50
1t has never been born on an, oppres-
Sive mission, nor even lowered In dis
grace.
1t was conceived through the we'd
lock of states; born in the travil of
war; nourished in the cradle of lib
erty; and, gathering strength through
the years of century or more, has
reached the splendid stature of its
prime that. measures favorably with
any figure in the group of nations.
There is, perhaps, no inanimate OBJ
ject on the face of the globe. with
more expressive life, than the flag of
our country It seems to be eloquent
In an universal language all may un-
derstand When it spreads its folds
of red and white and blue, ripping in
sunlight, it betokens victory, dignity,
JOY, power and command; when 1t
droops, 1T symbols compassion and
sorrow; and, draped over the casket
of Its protector and defender, 1t means
regard and history--a becoming
shroud for the soldier dead.
The defense of the flag was the SOL
dier's mission of this civil war; the
preservation Of it is the mission of ev-
cry American citizen living under 1t.
The flag Is the signal of protection;
whether against foreign or domestic
| foe, the invader or law breaker, the
| revolutionist, socialist or anarchist; 1t
is sign the nation has set up, pro-
claiming freedom to all, protection and
humanity.
The robe of justice.
| 1t invites the oppressed to rally be-
meath its folds; it warns against tres
pass within its sacred precincts.
| Let everyone, elevated by Its pro.
! lection, stand before it impressed will
reverence and uncover as it passes by
and let them gather It to their breast
with a loving embrace as they would
fold an idle child they thought they
had lost.
| After years Of earnest endeaver, the
several states have enacted laws pro-
viding for the display Of the flag over
the school houses of all districts where
patriotism reigns. Under 1t, millions
of children, who will govern sthe coun-
try in the next decade or two, are be-
| S,,o al, IN no off
! The country saved by valor land
sacrifice is made more secure, year af-
| ter year, as mind after mind absorbs
the value of true patriotism. So
then, fellow citizens, let us hoist the
flag on its coming birthday. 1t will
mean that each home, beneath it's pro-
lection, is fortress to resist the APP
proach of every foe. over this cattle
of liberty let the flag fly, signal OF
human freedom in its highest concep-
ton, and the equality of man, Of what
ever race, that is the creation Of infin-
/ lite thought.
Fly it from every house top-every
public building-the shipping-fron
every movable vehicle-that the world
may know the American people honor
the birthday of the flag, the love OF
| which is the nations safety--as me-
| cesSary as preparation for war
Through the influence Of those who
will hold aloft the hag-and all the
principles 1t represents, the multitude
of unreflned immigration will realize
! that all is alloyed with treason or de.
generacy must pass through a crucibl,
that is heated over furnace fed witt
the fuel Of patriotism.
Allan G. Bakewell,
Chief Aid to the Commander II
4 Chief, Grand Army Of the Republic ii
| Charge of Patriotic Education II
4 Schools.