The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1908-06-07
Old Glory Will Be 131 Years
Old Next Sunday.
HOW THE DESIGN WAS CHOSEN
Idea of the Stnrs and Stripes Older
Even Than the Declaration OF
Independence-The Plan UndOubt-
eddy Was Taken from the Wash
ington Family Coat OF Arms.
By RUDOLPH DE zAPP.

Next Sunday our flag. the glorious
Stars and Stripes, will celebrate its birth
day anniversary. The emblem OF the
United States OF America saw the light
Of day almost as early as the Declaration
Of Independence. The latter instrument
dates back to July 4. 1776. while Old Glory
had its official birth June H. l777. Both.
ever since the time OF their entrance into
the world. have been inseparable COM
panions, standing, wherever they appear
ed, hand-in-hand, for freedom, justice.
and happiness.
Though many theories have existed as
10 the origin OF the American flag, his
tory records that the American colonists
were accustomed to the use OF the flag
OF Great Britain. This was the flag which
they carried to victory in their colonial
battles against Indians. the Spaniards.
and the French. 1t was a flag Of red.
white. and blue. and bore a canton in
the corner. It foated over all their public
buildings. and was honored and loved
until the Revolution.
Many Flags Used Mt First.
Some OF the flags during the Revolution
were all red, with white horizontal
stripes. or red and blue stripes; others
were red. blue. white. or yellow Upon
these were the pine or Liberty Tree"
and the words. An Appeal to Heaven
also stars, the crescent, anchor, beaver,
and serpant-under the latter, Don't
Tread on Ne" A flag at the battle of
White Plains bore the words, Liberty
or Death"
on January ?, 1916. at Cambridge. Mass
was first hoisted the Grand Union" flag
Of the crosses Of st. Andrew and ST.
George, and the thirteen alternate red
and white stripes. emblematic of the
union of the thirteen colonies against
the oppressive acts OF British tyranny
This was the flag in use when the
Declaration OF Independence was read by
the Committee of Safety at Philadelphia
in the presence OF washington in New
York. and from the balcony OF the State
House in Boston.
First Move for National Emblem.
The first decisive step taken in the d.
! rection of the national standard. how
ever. was In October. 1775. Congress was
considering the subject Of Federal navy.
The question Of colors arose. This led to
the suggestion of a common flag for all
the colonies-for the land as well as for
the sea. DR.. Franklin. Mr Lynch. and
Mr. Harrison were appointed a COW nit
tee TO consider the subject. They met at
Cambridge. Washingtons headquarters.
This was in l775. before independence
was even thought Of. They took the
British flag retained the crosses upon
their field of blue. but broke the expanse
Of red with stripes Of white, making In
/ all thirteen stripes of white and red, 70
! represent the thirteen colonies.
| The next step was that on Saturday,
June IA. Ia, the American Congress
Resolved. That the flag Of the thirteen
United States be thirteen stripes, alter
nate red and white; that the union be
thirteen stars. white. in a blue field. rep
resenting a new constellation" This is
the first legislative action Of which there
is any Official record in the governmental