Daily Arizona silver belt., 1909-05-26
FINE PROGRAM ARRANGED CON- sIsTING OF RITUAL AND
 PATRIOTIC NUMBERS
ORDER PERPETuATES HOLIDAY
INTERESTING STORY OF ORIGIN AND HISTORY OF NATIONS
 EMBLEMArIC BANNER.

Monday, June Il.
 While Flag Day is observed to a cer- tain extent by the plblie generally throughout the United States, it is an annual custom with the Elks, as that order was the first to adopt regular program for that date and to take steps to promote the observance of proper ceremonies for the celebration of the adoption of the stars and stripes.
 The history of the flag. i, interesting, considering the important part it has played in the history of the United States.
 History of the Flag
 The history of the American flag be- gan with the landing of the Mayfower in l620. The first colonial flag was known as the "Kng's Colors," com. bining the red and white crosses of England and Scotland upon an inner field of blue. During the memorable struggle of the colonists to establish themselves, various attempts were made to evolve general flag of their cause, but nothing definite resulted. The ami mating sentiment of the fathers of the republic was that of freedom, and in support thereof the word "Liberty" was emblazoned upon many of the flags employed in those early days.
 So great was the prejudice against England and the trappings of royalty that the use of the "King's Cplors" became intermittent, and was finally discontinued. Similar prejudice devel- oped against the crimson banner subse- quently adopted by the mother country, and known as the "Cromwell Flag.o In the year l707 the colonists selected a red flag as their ensign, bearing in the upper corner the green symbol of pine tree on white field. This ban ner was in popular favor for many years, and is thought to have. been the battle of Bunker Hill.
 In l775 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. An drew. This was the beginning of the
 flag of stars and stripes. In this form it was hoisted by General George Wash ington over his headquarters at Cam bridge, Mass, January l, 1776. The same pattern of flag was raised by Lieutenant John Paul Jones on his yes. sel, the "Alfred ed,'--its first use on a 
 The rightro freedom was proclaimed by the colonists on July 2, 1776, and, two days later, on July 4, the Deelara. tion of Independence was adopted. In more representative of the aims and ideals of tho new country, on June IA, TIT, one hundred and thirty-two years ago, congress declared the national flag to be thirteen stripes, seven red and six white, with thirteen stars in a circle on blue field. 4
 According to most authorities. the first flag of this description was made by Betsy Ross, at her homo, No. 239 Arch steet, Philadelphia, building still preserved and pointed out as the of our national emblem. George Washington, acting as commit teeman, submitted the design of the dag 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 1795, 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 1, l8lS,, when the stripes were reduced to the original and tho stars increased to one for each state.
 These changes also brought about n of the stars from the circular to the present group formation. For time the constellation was de- picted as one large star, thus suggest ing the motto, Pluribus Unum: One formed of many. :" The red, white and blue colors in the flag were inherited from England and Scotland, and the stripes from Holland. The combination of stripes, eolors and stars, was m American idea The ssed in the flag has been interpreted to mean defianee| to all forms of tyranny and oppression, the white is indicative of purity and charity, while the blue represents jus tice and fidelity. In the American navy a special flag is displayed during the Sunday religious service--a square pennant of white, charged with blue cross emblematic of faith, and this is l the only flag that is permitted to fly