Bisbee daily review., 1909-05-29
WILL OBSERVE FLAG DAY
Bisbee to Honor Adoption of : AmeficaG fiag-History of
 Emblem interesting
WAS DESIGNED IN 1775
 AND ADGPTED IN TIT

In honor of the adoption of the American flag. 132 years ago, Flag Day, Monday, June IA, will be observ- ed more or less in Bisbee.
 The history of the flag Is interest ing. considering the important part 1t has played in the history of the United States.
 History of the Flag.
 The history of the American flag began with the landing of the May flower in 1920. The first colonial flag was known as the Kings Colors.' combining the red and white crosses of England and Scotland upon an in ner field of blue. During the mem orable struggle of the colonists to es- tablish themselves. various attempts were made to evolve general fiag of their cause, but nothing definite resulted. The animating sentiment of the fathers of the republic was that of freedom. and in support there of the word Liberty was emblazon. ed upon many of the flags employed in those early days.
 So great was the prejudice against England and the trappings of royal ty that the use of the Kings Colors" became intermittent and was finally discontinued. Similar prejudice devel. oped against the crimson banner sub sequently adopted by the mother country, and known as the Cromwell Flag" In the year 1707 the colonists selected a red flag as their ensign, bearing in the upper corner the green symbol of a pine tree on white field This banner was in popular favor for many years, and is thought to have been the one carried by the Ameri' cans in the battle of Bunker Hill.
 In 1775 a flag was designed for the Continental army and navy, showing thirteen alternate stripes of red and white, corresponding to the number of the colonies, with an azure field in the upper corner bearing the red cross of St. George and the white of St Andrew. This was the beginning of the flag of stars and stripes. In this form it was hoisted by General George Washington over his head quarters at Cambridge, Mass. Jan uary 1. 1776. The same pattern of flag was raised by Lieutenant John Paul Jones on his vessel, the Alfred" its first use on a man of war.
 The right of freedom was proclaim ed by the colonists on July 2, 1116, and two days later. on July f, the Declaration of Independence was adopted In response to the demand for a banner more representative of the aims and ideals of the new coun- try, on June II, 1717, one hundred and thirty-two years ago, congress de- clared the national flag to be thir- teen stripes. seven red and six white, with thirteen stars in a circle on blue field.
 According to most authorities the first flag of this description was made by Betsy Ross at her home, No. 239 Arch street. Philadelphia, building still preserved and pointed out as the birthplace of our national emblem. George Washington, acting as com mitteeman. submitted the design of the flag to Betsy Ross. and it was upon her suggestion that the stars were made of five points, as in France. instead of six points, as in England. In I795. after Vermont and Kentucky had been admitted into the union, two stripes and two stars were added to the flag. The war of 1872 was fought under such a flag. and it remained in this form until July 4, ISIS, when the stripes were reduced to the original thirteen, and the stars increased to one for each state.
 These changes also brought about a encouragement of the stars from the circular to the present group for nation. For a time the constella- tion was, depicted as one large star, thus sugeesting the motto, F. Plur1- bus Unum: "One formed of many. The red, white and blue colors in the flag were inherited from England and Scotland. The combination of stripes colors and stars was an American idea. The red in the flag has been interpreted to mean defiance to all forms of tyranny and oppression. the white is indicative of purity and char ity. while the blue represents justice and fidelity In the American navy q special flag is displayed during the 1 Sunday religious service-a square pennant of white. charged with a blue cross emblematic of faith. and this is the only flag that is permitted | to fly.