The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1906-04-12
FLAG DAY.
Reasons Set Forth why 1t Should he
GENERALLY Observcd-Ours the Oldest
OF All National Flags.

A<"Son" SET FOrth Why 1t Should n
Generally Observcd-Ours the Olde.,
OF All National Fins..
Mrs. Eliza J. Crisler, Greensburp
lnd., National Patriotic Instructor O,
the Woman's Relief Corps. has issued
the following circular letter:
10 Officers and Members Of the Wo.
mans Relief Corps:
ON history's crimson pages, high I'M or
the roll Of fame.
The Story of Old Glory burns. in death
less words of fame
twas Graded In wars binding smoke.
amid the war of guns,
Its lullabies were battle cries. the
shouts OF Freedoms sons;
IL Is the old red. white and blue. proud
emblem OF the free,
II Is the flag that floats above our land
of liberty.
Then greet it when you meet it. boys,
the flag that waves on high:
AND hats off. all along the line, when
Freedoms flag goes by"
Charles L. Benjamin,
America is the youngest of the great
Nations. yet our flag is older than that
OF any other: June IA, 1905, Is it's 1891,
anniversary.
1t has a history the like Of which is
not accorded the emblem OF any Ma
ton. The first American flag was
|
massachusetts Colony, and was a white
ground upon which was a pine tree
ana over 1t the words. IAN Appeal to
Heaven"
This was for the Navy, but. was used
TO some extent upon the land. Cen
washington designed a flag for the use
OF the army which was IL stripes, red
and white. with the English Union Jack
In the upper corner: it was raised over
npadn14rfprS hrid
Jan. l. 1875, and the next day planted
on Prospect Hill. Somerviile, Mass
where monument now stands in its
honor.
The "Stars and Stripes" was also de-
signed by Washington. and adopted by
Congress-. June IA, l777..
The Ranger. commanded by Capt.
John Paul Jones. was the first ship to
unfurl our flag in q foreign port, Dec.
/. 1777.
Ten years later 1t made its first trip
around the world on the Columbia
commanded by Capts. Kendrick and
Gray, and was three years girdIing the
globe. Nov. 8. 1867, it was planted Oil
the shores of Alaska, and in 1898 on
the Philippines. Cuba and Porto Rico,
and officially raised on the Hawaiian
Islands.
In all these years 1t has f1oated over
our country q symbol Of freedom and
protection, and led on to victory the
soldiers Of the Revolutionary War, the
War Of 1912, the Mexican War: the
great civil war, and last Of all. those of
the Spanish-American War.
The estimated cost Of the Revolu-
tionary War was s135,1ss.7Os; the
War Of 1912, $107,159,0O3; of the Mex
lean War, s10O.00O.OOO; of the civ,.
war. $6.189,929,9O9.
And who can estimate the cost in
suffering and priyation? Go back to
Valley Forge. look on the suffering of
Washington and his gallant men, their
| half-staryed, half-clothed bodies. and
bloody footprints in the snow: then
pass on down to every battlefield in the
several wars mentioned where men
| dared to do and die"
Think of the long, weary marches
through the snow. sleet, and biting
winds of Winter, the drenching rains,
clouds Of dust and sitting heat of sum
mer Even now thousands of "our
boys are enduring the climate and
| miasma OF the Tropics to preserve its
honor.
And what did II cost those left al
home? Think Of the awful suspense
| The heartaches. the weary waiting and
watching after each battle; and Of tho
homes made desolate. the vacant places
never to be filed, and to-day thousands
upon thousands who have answered
| the last roll-cail since the close OF the
war sleep in martyrs graves as truI.
as though slain upon the field OF battle
| All this in defense of the principles
the Stars and Stripes represent.
"Oh! the blood. the tears the trium ph.
| ii I'm every fiber holds.
Oh! the grand heroic spirits we sec
| sitting in its folds!
Tis the ensign Of the ages. it is Free.
| sdom'S gift and Sbrfnet
| That dear old Star Spangied banner
my fathers flag and NINE"
| No other country SO widely display.
Its National Flag as Our Own United
the respectful attention 1t should re-
| ceiye.
President Roosevelt SAYS: "Tht
young American now entering upon his
| duties Of citizenship holds In his
hands the fate OF the coming years
With him II rests to decide the failure
| or success Of the tremendous expert.
| ment begun by Washington. He mus.
work out the future Of our country: he
| must carry on the Government planned
by the wisdom OF great statesmen
founded and saved by the valor oil
great soldiers"
How important. then, It is that the
| teacher be imbued with a true spirit OF
| patriotism. that the pupil may be
taught what It means to be an Ameri-
can citizen.
Let every member OF the Woman's
Relief Corps unfurl the Stars and
Stripes on its Natal Day. June II, and
invite others to do so. showing to the
world that We are loyal and true to
4. .Aek A.