Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-05-19
FLAG DAY JUNE IA.
ANNIVERSARY OF TINE ADOPTION
OF STARRY BANNER FALLS
NEXT MONTH

Patriotic Citizens Are Urged to Appro
} prlateIy Observe the Day Through :
i Circular From American Flag Asso
clatlon-How Public May Assist.
\ The American Flag association has
sent out circular letter addressed tc
!, the mayor of each American city, the
American press, the officers and mem
bers OF American patriotic societies. to
school officers and teachers and all
fellow citizens, touching on the OBJ
servance Of the 10th anniversary of
the adoption of the starry banner OF
the union, which comes next month
The American Flag association is an
organization of individuals and mem.
bers OF flag committees from patriotic
societies formed in 1897 to promote
reverence for the flag and to prevent
ITS dissertation. The circular follows
"The American Flag association, in
accordance with its custom of the past
nine years, respectfully reminds you
that Thursday, June IA. 1906, will be
the 129th anniversary of the adoption
of the stars and stripes as the flag of
the United States. During recent
years Flag day has come to be recog-
nized more and more as national
holiday; and we earnestly request your
cooperation in securing the widest
possible observance this year.
Mayors of cities are requested to
order flags to be displayed upon all
municipal buildings, and by formal
10, &io,, ~ i,,,,sto &hos, qoffzr,
zens to do the same upon private build.
ings.
Editors are requested to make ed
ttorial announcement, and to publish
articles upon the subject of the flag;
and TO request the public to display the
national colors on June IA, 1906.
School officers and teachers are re-
quested to arrange for patriotic exer-
cieses celebrating the day, and teach
the story of the flag and what it rep
resents, and have the young people
pledge their fealty and loyalty to it.
t american patriotic societies are
urged to assist in stirring up enthu-
siasm by public appeals through local
mediums and to arrange observance of
the anniversary.
"All American citizens are earnestly
invited to join in the public recogni-
ton of the birthday of the emblem Of
our nationality.
Born June ID 1777.
s'On the 14th day of June 1777, con-
gress enacted what the flag of the thir-
teen United States should be, and
April 4, 1878, further enacted that on
the admission of new state into the
union, one star be added to the union
of the flag, and there are now forty
five stars on the flag.
"The flag has become the symbol of
a great nation, and has been carried
to the utmost parts of the earth, pro
claiming human liberty. Americans
cannot fail Of a feeling of pride and
satisfaction nor restrain the swelling
of patriotism in the breast, when we
contrast the meaning of ours and of
other flags.
eve earnestly exhort our citizens to
join in making Flag Day an event, and
its celebration in 1906, a great event.
Let us from one end of our land to
the other, fling the stars and stripes
to the breeze on June IA, 1906. May
1t greet the rising and salute the set
ting sun, and float all day long from
every church edifice, school and build
ing. public and private and however
humble, throughout the entire land"
Ralph E! Prime,
president.
Theodore Fitch, Secretary"
! School Salute to the Flag.
The circular contains the following
outline of a salute to the American
colors, designed for use In the schools
eat a given hour in the morning the
pupils are assembled and in their
places in the school. A signal is given
by the principal of the school. Every
student or pupil rises in his place. The
flag is brought forward to the princi-
pal or teacher While 1t is being
brought forward from the door to the
stand. of the principal or teacher, ev-
cry pupil gives the flag the military
salute, which is as follows:
"The right hand uplifted, palm up.
ward, to line with the forehead, close
to it. While thus standing with the
palm upward and in the attitude of
salute, all the pupils repeat together
slowly and distinctly the following
pledge: =
pledge allegiance to my flag and
to the republic for which it stands:
One nation indivisible, with liberty and
justice to ALL
cat the words To My Flag each
one extends the right hand gracefully,
palm upward, toward the flag, until the
end of the pledge of affirmation Then
all hands drop to the side. The pupils,
still standing, all sing together in un-
ison the song 'America'-'My Country,
TITS of Thee
I'm the primary departments where
the children are very small, they are
taught to salute in silence, as an act
of reverence, unaccompanied by any
pledge. AS signal, when the flag
reaches it's station, the right hand is
raised, palm downward, to horizon.
tai position against the forehead, and
held there until the flag is dipped and
returned to a vertical position. Then
at a second signal, the hand is dropped
to the side, and the pupil takes his
seat. The silent salute conforms very
o1o rs he