Democratic messenger., 1909-08-20
MANY SPECIAL FLAGS.
Uncle Sam Has Some Which Are
Very Seldom Seen.
C0L0RS OF THE PRESIDENT.

Banner. bot Now He Has Three, the
Naval. Army and Peace Flags.
As the United States grew aud the
government expanded many new de-
partinents were added, aud with them
many special flags have come into ex-
istence. Least often seen and yet
most interesting Of these twenty. Ave
or thirty special flags Is that Of the
president Of the United States. He
has a wealth of them--in fact, no less
than three-but they are seldom seen
In public. There are two each of these
flags. one Of bunting and one Of silk.
They are exactly alike, with this ex-
ception. but the one Of silk Is called
the presidents colors."
The president Of the United States
had no personal nag until 1882. II he
went aboard ship his presence was
denoted by the national dag hoisted
at the main truck. and his presence In
q garrison or post was denoted by the
raising Of the big garrison dag. These
ing the presence OF the president for
these flags were holsted on gala occa-
sions when the president was not
around. The lack of distinguishing
Dag for him was felt by the navy also.
and the secretary Of the navy by gen.
eral orders. Aug. 10. 1882. established
q nag for the president of the United
States. The general orders described
the dag as Of blue bunting with the
coat Of arms Of the United States In
the center. The dag was TO be hoisted
at the main Of the vessel when the
president was aboard and be carried at
| the bow of the launch on which he
came aboard.
In the army there was no distin-
gushing fag for the president Of the
United States until just before the
outbreak Of the Spanish war.
Colonel Theodore Bingham. who was
then superintendent Of public build
ings and grounds. called the attention
Of President Mckinley to this lack Of
a distinguishing flag for him and
stated that he thought the commander
In chief Of the United States army and
navy ought to have distinguishing
flag. President Mckinley did not like
the suggestion. but the secretary Of
war did. and flag was made. II was
designed by Frederick d. owen and is
a beautiful thing TO look at. The OFF,
ciai description Of the flag Is as fol-
| lows:
The presidents flag Is OF scarlet
bunting. thirteen feet fy and eight feet
hoist. In each corner Is five pointed
star Of Ave inch radius to the tips. In
the center Of the scarlet field Is a large
fifth star. also Of FIVE points. two feet
nine inches In radius to the tips. In
side of this star Is n parallel star.
separated from II by band OF white
three inches wide. The Inner star
forms the blue field upon which is Tie
coat Of arms Of the United States. On
the scarlet field around the large star
are forty-six small white stars. one for
each state. equally scattered In the re-
entering angles and all included with.
In the circumference OF an imaginary
circle three feet and quarter In
radius. In the upper point over the
angle is a constellation Of thirteen
stars. representing the original thirteen
states Of the American confederation.
Mr.. Owen explained that In the olive
leaves. its berries and the arrows ID
symbolized the original thirteen. 1t II
also not little singular that the OH
I .aal rt.A In. 80 tn aW
actly thirteen letters and that the gen
eral order which created the dag was
also numbered thirteen. The magnifi
cent silken colors Of the presidents
dag are of scarlet. and the design II
embroidered upon this so exQuisitely
that 1t Is impossible to tell right from
wrong side when looking at the flag
The colors on the Dag are what Il
called "proper'--that is. natural-thl
eagle being brown and the oliv'
branches green, with red berries. Thii
dag Is to be displayed only IN time o.
war.
Yet another nag has the president
In 1902 the peace" flag was adopted
This third flag differs In n good many
respects from the other two. In the
first place. the great seal Of the United
States is correctly depleted. On thu
other fiags the design Of the seal Il
} seven red stripes and six white ones
which Is correct. as the flag desigI
was adopted by the Third congress
but when the great seal was adopted
the designer, not knowing much abou
the flag, as the forefathers intended
J and six red stripes. And that Is thu
seal today. There was a long discus
} sion whether the seal should not b
changed to agree with the stripes oI
the fiag. as the forefathers intended
but II was decided that as 1t hat
} been adopted II should remain. Thi
peace fiag ahus has The seal correctl,
depicted. The eagle is snow white
its feathers being outlined In deeI
black. There Is a different arrange
ment OF the stars and Of the sunburs
also. The sunburst Is exactly circular