The Washington herald., 1908-06-14
Origin and Meaning Of This
National Holiday.
JUNE IA FLAGS NATAL DAY
Congress on that Date in 1777 Pro-
muIEated Resolution Recognizing
Officially ns National Emblem
Banner Which Washington Had
Created, Based on COat-Of-arms.

ances?'
These three inquiries were sent to
veteran newspaper man in Washington;
and he was particularly amazed because
they came from the superintendent OF the
public schools in a pretentiOus and pros
porous Western city. To be entirely
truthful about it, the newspaper man ad-
mitted 10 himself that he was unable to
answer the questions. Consequently he
went 10 veteran officials of the Senate
and House OF Representatives for the in
formation He was also surprised to as
certain that not one Of them knew any,
thing about Flag Day" except that
once a year some patriotic people were
disposed 10 give prominence 70 a display
Of the Stars and Stripes: but there was
nothing official in that.
MOrrisOns 10 the Rescue.
The situation melted desire for facts
and led the writer into a merry chase
Of educators and photographers; but not
one Of them seemed 20 have any positive
knowledge. Finally the Library Of Con-
gress was visited and books were dug
up by the astute assistant Librarians.
John Morrison and Hugh Morrison.
From Information thus obtained, il is
possible 10 set forth some valuable and
interesting facts.
In the first place, there is a definite day
for Flag Day" and no other date will
answer the purpose. II must be June "A:
that date only. else IL Will have no official
patriotic significance. This Is OF prime
Importance. Now. for a proper under
standing Of Flag Day" we must investi-
gate the origin Of our national emblem.
The Stars and Stripes first appeared
floating over the headquarters OF Gen.
George Washington on the heights OF
Cambridge. near Boston. on January 2.
l06 This Is a very important fact. which
is not usually impressed upon the minds
OF the children in our public schools
With this fact the children should also
be impressed with the coordinate and
corre-ative fact that the flag was made
originally. under the military orders and
under the personal directions of George
Washington. and that II contained in
every fold the personal defiance Of Brit
ish rule by George Washington himself
Like CnrroII'S Act.
II Is historically recorded that when
Charles Carroll signed the Declaration Of
Independence. he added the words OF
II
might be distinguished from all OF the
other CAROLS In America Carroll has
been commended for his personal courage
In thus taking upon himself all responsi-
bility for that act.
But George Washington ante-dated
Carroll by displaying his personal re-
sponsibillty IN that great struggle Wash
ington took his family coat-of-arms.
which consisted OF three bars running
across The escutcheon, and three stars
In the upper portion From that he evolv-
ed our national emblem With splendid
courage and defiance he took this heraldic
design OF his family. and caused 10 be
made flag with IN rteen stripes. repre-
senting the thirteen colonies Instead OF
using the stars Of his crest, he set on
the blue ground the cross Of st. Andrew
and St. George This original flag Of our
country, made from the Washington fam
fly coat-of-arms. he loated over his
headquarters. Thus. on January .. 177G.
George Washington promulgated his In
dividual Declaration. OF Independence.
This was six months in advance Of the
signing OF the official declaration. on
July 4, l06. The British soldiers when
they saw that flag imagined that it was
token OF submission to the King. whose
proclamation had just been promulgated.
Very soon they discovered their error.
Recorded I'm British Annals.
The British Register Of 177G says: THE
rebels burned the Kings speech. and
changed their colors from a plain red
ground to a flag with thirteen stripes. as
a symbol Of their Union Of thirteen col
onies."
That. please bear in mind. was the first
nf
flung 10 the free air Of heaven By Wash
ington. who invented Il, is not generally
known; indeed. is known 10 very few
people, because II is not taught. emphat-
lcally. in our public schools
From January ?. l06, 20 July 4. 1776. six
months elapsed preceding the Declara-
ton of Independence. Then another year
passed away before the national emblem
was officially designated. Thus Washing
ton was one year and half IN advance
OF the official designation OF "Old Glory
as. in part, we know it to-day.
on June "A mark the date. 17T. the
Congress. sitting in Philadelphia. officially
Resolved That the flag Of the thlr-
teen United States shall be Of thirteen
stripes of alternate red and white. with
union Of thirteen stars OF white. In a
blue field representing the new constel-
lation"
Please remember that the British Reg
lister Of l776 officially records that Wash
ington's headquarters flag was noated on
January 2. 1776, with thirteen stripes.
as a symbol of their Union of thirteen
colonies
Whnt Flag Represents.
The Congress appointed committee on
the flag. which reported in extenso:
THE stars Of the flag represent a new
constellation rising IN the West. The
idea Is taken from the great constellation
Lyra, which, in the hands Of Orpheus.
signifies harmony. The blue In the field
IS taken from the edge OF the Covenant
ers' Banner Of Scotland significant OF
the League Covenant of the United States
against oppression. The stars are dis
posed in a circle symbolizing the per
petuity Of the Union, the ring signifying
eternity. The thirteen stripes with the
thirteen stars show the number of the
united colonies, and denote subordination
OF the States to the Union. as well as
equality among themselves. The red. TIE
color which In the Roman days was a
symbol of defiance. denotes daring. and
the white. purity
The resolution establishing the flag was
not promulgated by the secretary Of the
Congress until September 3. IN. This
flag was first carried in the battle Of the
Brandywine. September II, III, and was
borne in all of the subsequent encamp-
ments, marches, campaigns and battles
Of the war Of the Revolution
Origin of Flag Day.
Now, as to the origin and significance Of
Flag Day" The significance, you will
have discovered already. is that the
celebration is to be in annual commem-
Grafton of the date OF the official resolu-
ton of the Congress of June a. 1777.
promulgating the Stars and Stripes.
Therefore. no other date would be suit