The National tribune., 1906-06-21
FLAG DAY.

FLAG DAY.
The Day Generally Observed All Over
the COuntry-Oli GIOry's Birthday Has
n Firm Hold ON the Peoples Imngina-
tiOn-WaShfnEtcn DreSsed I'm Flags.
All the indications are that Flag Day
has take n tenacious hold on the hearts
OF the people, and the general Observ-
ance of the day in nearly all sections
proves that the love for Old Glory deep
ems with the years.
The day in Washington was generally
observed. There was a ripple of red.
white and blue wherever you looked on
the streets and avenues, some of the
business houses closed at l o'clock, and
the public schools all held patriotic ex-
eccises.
TIE little children in their pretty
Summer clothes were beautiful to look
upon. and their Rotations and singing
showed that they had been carefully
trained. The speakers who went before
them had to be pretty careful Of their
statements of history, and found that 1t
was not necessary to go so very much
mo detail about some features Of the
Flag. for the kidlets knew the story of
Belsey and how she made the Flag just
about as we'll as anybody who came be-
1oIc lNcui u tell dUOul IL. Inc bcpdTl-
men. of Potomac, G. A. r., detailed lbs
members Of the Grand Army of the Re-
puoiic to speak in the various public
schools. and several members of the
Woman's Relief Corps. notably Mrs.
Julia Mason Layton, of 0. p. Morton
Corps. Past Senior Vice President of the
Department.; Mrs. Ida ]. Hart. of
Burnside Corps, Past Department Presi-
dent. Mrs. Mamie G. Davis, Chairman
nj ho RI ant fsxfn I'd
and Mrs. Isabel Worrell Ball, Of Lin
coin Corps, Special National Press Cor
respondent, were also detailed for this
patriotic work.
The Washington Evening Star has
the following to say of the inception of
the Flag Day observance in the Dis,ric.
Of Columbia:
1.-The recurrence OF Flag Day and
the increasing interest in it's Observance
in Washington, and throughout the
country, has led to many inquiries as to
when 4. was first observed b. the pubic
schools in the District. Reference to
the files of The Star shows that the first
observance of the day in Washington
was June II, 1895. Then Secretary Of
tie department Of Potomac. w. X. c.,
Mrs. Isabel WorreIl Ball, as the minutes
Of that organization show, personally
visited the Superintendent OF Public
Schools and asked that the pupils OBJ
serve the day and that flags be dis
played. A visit to the larger business
houses was also made to request the dis
play Of flags on that day. The files Of
The Star also show that Flag Day SER
vices were held In the First Presbyterian
Church on the night Of the 14th Of June.
1895, and a program Of speaking and
music was presented. Gen. J. c. Breck-
inridge, then Inspector-General Of the
Army, presided over the meeting, and
1t is recalled by some who We're there
that he then expressed wonder that tn e
day had not been before observed, and
the hope that 1t would come to be one
Of the great days Of the country Dr.
F. T. Howe was also one Of the speakers.
Mrs Ball arranged all the exercises and
herself gave an address on the Flag.
Another speaker was Col. John McElroy.
A prominent member Of the Woman 3
Relief Corps says the Woman's Relief
Corps stood alone In its work for the OBJ
servance of Flag Day for nearly five
years, but was always able to fill one of
the largest churches in the city for Flag
the assistance Of the Marine Band for
the music"
This excellent work OF the Woman.
Relief Corps has been kept up, and nov
each Of the Corps holds Flag Day exer-
cises, so that the whole city gets the
benefit of the example thus set The
good work set afoot by Mrs. Ball under
supreme difficulties has gone right on,
and now request to the schools and
the citizens to observe the day with
proper exercises and by the fiinging to
the breeze OF Old Glory is not necessary
u Is really interesting to note, however
how many people and how many p;.-
| triotic societies are trying to "swipe'
the honor Of instituting the observd nco
hn 1nxr 4
public would like to claim 1t, but II Is
Is years late. To the Woman's Relief
Corps belongs the honor, and the world
may well accept the verdict Back
Of the Woman's Relief Corps. 1t Is true
| was that sterling patriot, Col. Geo. w
Balch, and then Capt. Wallace Foster
but the work came from their hands
directly to the Relief Corps. and the
great patriotic movement has swept over
| the country as the result Of their direct
| efforts.
Among the speakers in the schools OF
the city were Department Commando
| Entrikin. Capt. Hyland C. Kirke. DR.
Thos. Calver, Medical Director; Capt. ]
NJ. Edgar. Commander OF the Old Guard
Col. B. II. Warner. who will be remem.
| bered as the Chairman OF the NatfOna
F'ncampment Committee OF 1902, ant
Col. John McElroy, Past National Senio,
Vice COmmander-in-Chief
Among the prominent Corps enter
tafnments was that OF George III
Thomas Corps. Mrs. Kaufman Presi
dent. The ladies prominently associa.
ed with her in the preparations for tn.
day were Mrs. Agnes Keller, Mrs EN-
ma c. LittlejOhn. Mrs. Elizabeth Lang
ham. and Congressman Cole, Of low
delivered the address.
i Lincoln Corps, Mrs. Olive Raymond
Patriotic Instructor, held delightful ex
ercises in one of the large churches. anf
10. p. Morton and Charles Sumner Corps
the two oldest Corps In the city, hell
joint exercises. The Patriotic Instruc
tors OF these two Corps are Mrs julie
Collier, OF Morton Corps, and Mrs Fran
els Freiinghuysen. OF Sumner Corps
Mrs. Annie e. Cromwell Ii President o.
morton Corps and Mrs. Julia West Ham
iiton Ii President OF Sumner Corps
both ladies serving their second terms
The joint exercises OF these two cOlore.
Corps were held In one OF the larres
kn~a