Bisbee daily review., 1909-06-15
ANNIVERSARY OF l
 AMERICAN FLAG

WASHINGTON. D. C.. June f4.- Throughout the length and breadth of the United States, from the At
 lantic to the Pacific. from the Canad
 ian frontier to the Gulf of Mexico. as well as in the detached American possessions in Alaska, Hawaii, the Philippine Islands and Porto Rico, patriotic Americans celebrated today
 the one hundred and thirty-second anniversary of the American flag
 IA. TIT. Although not a legal hoit
 day by national consent, Flag day is perhaps more generally and faith
 fully observed wherever Americans have their homes thah any other day in the year. excepting Independence day. the Glorious Fourth"
 For many decades after the adop
 tion of the Stars and Strires the eel ebration of Flag day was principally confined to the official observance of the anniversary by the federal off, cials throughout the country and oc- casfonal celebrations by patriotic SO
 cieties and patriotic school teachers. But, since the civil war, which put the loyalty 10 the Stars ard Stripes to the supreme test. wave of pa. triotism swept over the country. The sentiment for the flag of the country grew stronger and with it the desire to honor the symbol of union and Freedom by the appropriate obsery- ance of its birthday. The various patriotic associations of the country combined their efforts to bring about a more general public observance of Flag day and the.r efforts have been crowned with gratifying success. In six of the states, Illinois, Michigan. Connecticut, Wisconsin. Oregon and California. Flag day has been pro claimed a legal holiday and there is every reason to believe that other states will initiate this example.
 On every school house, from every federal and other public building and from hundreds Of thousands private buildings and homes Old Glory was unfurled this morning and every. where the anniversary of its birth was observed in an appropriate man. ner by patriotic exercIses. It is safe to say that no patriotic organization in the country neglected to honor the birthday of the Stars and Stripes and no district or other school, even in the remotest parts of the country failed to teach a lesson of national pride and loyalty to the future citi. gems of the American commonwealth
 The national capital, the birth place of the honored flag. naturally made special efforts to observe the day appropriately and there were few buildings. If any. public as well as private, that did not display the Stars and Stripes. Flags of every dimension. from enormous emblems on the government buildings, to the dimunitive flags adding cheer to the otherwise dismal aspect of the cot. taGes of the poor, were displayed in all parts of the city and Pennsyi varlia avenue, the majestic thorough. fare. leading to the capitol, was a perfect blaze of the national colors In all the public and private schools exercises were held in commemora tion of the flags birth and the vari GUS patriotic organizations. including the G. A. R., the Sons of Veterans, the woman's Relief Corps, the Span. lsh War Veterans, the Sons of the Revolution and many others, observ. ed the day by holding memorial eel ebrations with speeches. singing and music.
 The American flag Of the present day, although unlike the original flag made by Betsy Ross in Philadelphia, after a sketch by George Washing. ton. in May TIT and adopted as the national emblem by congress on June IA, TIT. is merely an elaboration and augmentation of the original. Con Sress decided. That the flag of the United States be thirteen stripes, al .ernate red and white; that the un tcn be thei-teen stars, white in al blce field. representing new con. =tellation.' At first 1t was decided to add a new stripe ard new star for every new state admitted to the Tnion. But, when the number had decided upon careful deliberation to- adopt the plan suggested in a bill by l Representative Peter H. Wendoyer of New York. and order the flag 10 be- 'thiTteen horizontal stripes, altsrn. ate red and white, with union or twenty white stars in blue field" It was also ordered that one star be edied for every new state admitted and that the new flags should go in TraT. s.f