The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1906-06-20

Eistoryofthe
An1ericanFIag
ecoatnuedfro Page oneo
Congress april ISIS Iensdays lat
Iersthe FIRST flag made underthis act
was hoisted over the Houseso OF Repre-
sentatfvesThis fas was made by
the wife OF the Captain Reid who de
signed it This IS the form OF he
flag around which the whole subse-
quent history of the people of the
United States clings, The emblem
which has become end.ea-ed 10 us as
a nation, and which is popularity call
ed -Old Glory" the Star SpanSied
Banner. and the Red. White and
Blue
In the war with Mexico our flag
figured prominently TIE most noted
of it's exploits occurred :. April, 1S4s,
when a party of American oldieTs
climbed to the summit Ct the second
highest peak in North America 70
'~pocatepetl. and with impressive z
emony unufurled the Stars n
Stripes Later it hoated over the pal
ace of MontezumaS- AT the close OF
the war the United States Senate re-
solved that the Vice President be re-
ouested to have the flag Of the United
States that was first erected by the
American army upon the palace IN the
capital OF Mexico deposited for SAFE
keeping in the Department OF State
of the United States
A most interesting period m the
history of the national ensign. was
the beginning Of the Civil War. When
the Southern States threatened to Sc
cede. the question arose. what IS 10
become of the flag OF The Union:
Professor Morse. the originator Oh 1ne
telegraph. pleaded against dissolution
suggested that thu blue union OF our
flag be diagonally divided from teI1
to right. and the thirteen stripes 0
izonta11v. so as to make six n a
half in the upper and SIX and a all
in the lower portion: AMI 1heSe sec
tons be. respectively. the Northern
and Southern flags. However the
coatendinE forces did NOT act upon
suggestion.
On April u. 1861. the Est sho'"aS
fred against the banner proudly wav-
ing over Fort Sumpter. Wen the
flag staff was OF away sergeant Fart
amid the flying shot. CALAMITY helo
the nag 10 the staff and for a tune
kept it from falling. Later the mas
was shot away and was NOT again rais-
ed until four years AFT ards When
Surapter was firmly and ea'hu'
siaSticallv reposSeSsed by the gov
erau.ent- When b Stars aad stripes
went down at Sumpter they went up
in every town and county IN the loSai
Sfa-es- Every city. tow and village
suddenly blossomed out With banners
Tn. demand for flags w. so Sres'
-ha+ ,be manufacturers could not FUR
,5sb Them fast enough. All at once
the dear old flag meant me beclaFa
ron of Independence: 1t mean Tree
dom it meant the honor and life OF
the Republic. n almoS: every nor'h'
ern town the patriotic feeling was
shown by loyal fas-raisin~s- Salutes
and e parades were e',
erwhere "old Glory" ar III: ed enth"'
SiaSm.
Meanwhile the great rebellion ha"
been going on and in 1852. when Cen
tera1 Farragut captured New Orleans
Tho order was given % 'rfurl the
stars and Stripes from every house
but, only a few old flags waved from
some of the hotels and heaters AT
this period many stirring incidents
IN connection with the Gag were oc-
curing. The burial Of the American
flag was publicly celebrated April y.
1861. at Memphis. Tennessee n a:
Alexandria. Georgia. the Indignation
OF the Unionists was aro.sed by the
killing of Colonel Ellsworth who was
rearing down a rebel flag and replac-
ing IT with the Union banner. Among
these Interesting incidents. one MADE
memorable by whitir- stands out
with refreshing clearn.-s. 1t IS the
story of Barbara Frier:hie. a widow
OF ainety.seven years. 81, waved the
flag while Stonewall nelson's oi'is-
ior of the rebel army =" on II. as
they passed through the Gown OF Fred
a-- r.rrJ,od in September, 1SG2.