The Holly chieftain., 1908-03-06
DUR cOUNTRY'S FLAG, ITS
HISTORY AND SIG
NIFICANCE.
By Mary J. Pierce.

che British flag was used, Dut
hot to any extent after the strug-
gle between England and the
colonies began.
Then came the important ques-
lion of selecting suitable stand
ards to express the sentiments OF
she people on the important ques-
lions of the day. During the ear
~ period of the Revolution, sew
.ral designs were brought into
Use, and nearly all bore notices
more or less defiant to the British
government. Among these early
:nsigns the most important were
he pine tree flag, the rattlesnake
lag, the black beaver flag of New
York. Rhode Island carried a
White flag with a blue anchor and
,he word Hope" Another flag
vas displayed at Charleston
,earing the words Liberty or
Death" Washington displayed
me in 1916 consisting of union
ack and thirteen stripes, alter
cate red and white, signifying
she union of the thirteen colonies
.gainst Great Britain.
Finally came the demand for
flag to be chosen for the use
+ all the colonies. The first Of
cial action in regard to ma
ional standard was taken in
.776 by the Continental Congress
1hen it passed this resolution,
THAT the flag of the thirteen
tates, white in blue field, rep
.esented a new consultations"
Ghat this design was developed
rom the Continental Union flag
~; stated by the best authorities.
The honor of making the first
ag with the stars and stripes is
Universally given to Mrs. Betsy
2:oss, a skilled needle-woman.
The was shown a rough drawing
# the flag by General Washing
on, who explained it to her. She
sbjected to the six pointed stars
nd suggested that 6ve-pointed
mes be used.
The new flag, according to the
lajority of writers, was first
isplayed on naval vessel by
saul Jones and, on land, in the
attle of Brandywine, Sept. 1777.
L: was used in the important en-
agements after that.
After Vermont and Kentucky
ere admitted to the Union, Con-
Sress enacted that a star and
ripe be added for each new
ate, making fifteen stars and
teen stripes. This was our ma
''onal emblem for twenty-three
Ears, during which time three
lsars were fought and won for
e rights of American citizens.
In 1878 there were twenty
ates and Congress enacted that
e number of stripes be reduced
thirteen to represent the orig
al colonies and the number of
ars be increased to twenty, and
nee that time on the admission
II each new state one star has
n zen added.
The flag waving overhead
ings different thoughts to diff
rent people. Many think of it's
brt and what it meant to those
ave soldiers who fought so
81 s.ll that our beautiful flag might
ave over our land.
The flag itself is history of
r nations origin and growth.
be thirteen stripes represent
thirteen original states, and
II the words Of Washington,
The red we take from our
other country, separating it by
n |. white stripe, thus showing
Il at we have separated from
II r." The flag which has been
eently planned, recognizing the
mission of Oklahoma, has
X sty-six stars. When we look
Il this flag we think of how vast
territory the union includes ant
ahn we look back and see in oul
snds that narrow strip of terri.
ay along the Atlantic coas,
II first constituted the United
ftes, we see how great the
swth has been.
Che flag signifies liberty. To