The National tribune., 1906-04-12
FLAG DAY,
Reasons Set Forth Why 1t Should u,
Generally Observcd-Ours the OIdes
of All National Fipps

of All National Fings.
Mrs. Eliza ]. Crisler, Greensburg.
Ind, National Patriotic Instructor OF
the Woman's Relief Corps. has issued
the following circular letter:
To Officers and Members of the Wo-
mans Relief Corps:
"On history's crimson pages, high up on
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 iullabieS were battle cries. the
shouts OF Freedoms sons;
II 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 If. bows.
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, 1906, is its 129th
anniversary.
1t has a history the like of which is
not accorded the emblem of any Ma
ton. The first American flag was
adopted by the General Court of the
'oioIiyp anu WAS a Wnlle
ground upon which was a pine tree,
and over it the words. IAN Appeal to
Heaven
This was for the Navy, but. was used
to some extent upon the land. Gen.
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
his headquarters at Cambridge, Mass.
I nd t,n
on Prospect Hill. Somerville, Mass
| where monument now stands in It's
| honor.
The "Stars and Stripes" was also de-
| signed by Washington, and adopted by
Congress. June IA, 1777.
The Ranger, commanded by Capt
| John Paul Jones. was the first ship 10
unfurl our flag in foreign port, Dec
| /. 1777.
Ten years later It made its first trip
around the world on the Columbia
commanded by Capts. Kendrick and
Gray, and was three years girdIng 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 fioated over
| our country a symbol of freedom and
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 S135,193,7O3; thc
| War Of 1872 $107, ,159 ,003; of the Mex
| lean War, $100.000,000; of the clvi!
war. s6.1S9,929,909.
And who can estimate the cost in
| III nd pri, ha %
| Valley Forge, look on the suffering of
Washington and his gallant men, their
| half-starved, half-clothed bodies. and
| bloody footprints in the snow; then
! pass on down to every battlefield in the
several wars mentioned where men
dared 10 "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 "ouI
boys are enduring the climate ami
| nliasma of the Tropics TO preserve it:
honor.
And what did II cost those left al
| home? Think of the awful suspense
The heartaches. the weary waiting ant
| watching after each battle; and of tIC
homes made desolate, the vacant place.
| never 10 be filed, and to-day thousand.
upon thousands who have answered
the last roll-call since the close of tn.
war sleep in martyrs graves as truI!
las though slain upon the field of battle
All this in defense of the principle
the Stars and Stripes represent.
oh, the blood. the tears. the triumph
il I'm every fiber holds!
Oh! the grand heroic spirits we sc,
sitting in its folds,
| TiS the ensign of the ages, ii is Free
1nt - ,ytft md Oh, .,.fp
That dear old Star Spangled banner
my fathers flag and mine"
No other country so widely display
its National Flag as Our Own United
States" yet. how many fail to give
/ the respectful attention 1t should re
ceive.
President Roosevelt SAYS: 9Th
young American now entering upon hi
duties of citizenship holds In hi
hands the fate of the coming years
With him ii rests TO decide the failur,
or success of the tremendous expert
ment begun by Washington. He mus
work out the future of our country; h
must carry on the Government planned
by the wisdom of great statesmen
founded and saved by the valor o
great soldiers"
II How important. then, II is that tn,
teacher be imbued with a true spirit O.
patriotism, that the pupil may b,
i taught what II means to be an Ameri
II can citizen.
4 Let every member OF the Woman,
Relief Corps unfurl the Stars anf
Stripes on its Natal Day. June IA, and
invite others to do so. showing to tht
world that We are loyal and true II