The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-06-14
TODAY IN HISTORY
Official ElaQ Day,
TUESDAY, JUNE Il. 1910.


| One nation, evermore."
Oliver Wendell Holmes,
| Today is the 1880 birthday anniver-
sary Of the American iiag. The date:
! June II, l77I, has been accurately nXed
by the action OF the Centennial congress
as recorded In the Journal OF Congress
| That body was then sitting in Phlladel-
phia having moved over March from
a little over two months sitting In Bal
timore.
The stars and stripes nrst appeared
floating over the headquarters OF Cen
eral George Washington, on the heights
OF Cambridge, near Boston, on January
l, lI76. Thus the Father of our Conn-
try promulgated his indivlduai ogclaia ogiLiel
tion OF independence. When the Brltlsh
soldiers saw the flag they imagined II
was a token Of submission, but very soon
discovered their error.
The British Register OF 1II6 says; Ihe
rebels burned the kings speech, and
changed their colors from plain red
ground to a flag with thirteen stripes,
as symbol of their union OF thirteen
colonies.
From January ., 1776, to July 4, 1176,
six months elapsed before the promul-
cation of the Declaration OF independence
Of the United States Moreover almost
another year elapsed before the national
emblem was officially sent upon its ms
sion OF universal love and liberty. Ihus
WASHINGTON was ono year and hall In
advance OF congress in HiDginS this Old
Glory OF ours to the free air of heaven.
The official order OF congress on June
il read as follows Resolved, that inc
flag of the thirteen United states snail
be OF thirteen stripes OF alternate red
and white; with a union OF thirteen stars
of white. in blue field, representing
new constellation
The report Of the committee VINO de-
signed and passed upon the flag reads
as follows ''fhe stars OF the nag rep
resent now constellation OF states, MS
ing in the west. The idea is taken from
Il ia kf1
In the hands OF Orpheus, signifies
harmony. The blue In the field is taken
from the edge of the covenanter's pan
ner in Scotland, significant OF a league
covenant of the United States against op-
preston The stars are disposed In
circle symboliZing the perpetuity OF the
union; the ring. sIgnifying eternity, The
thirteen stripes with the thirteen stars
show the number OF the united colonies.
and denotes the subordination OF the
states to the union, as well as equality
among themselves. The red the color
which in the Roman days was symbol
OF defiance, denotes daring, and the white,
purity"
This June IA resolution establishing
the flag was not promulgated by the sec
retary OF the congress until september s,
I7T7 This flag was first carried in the
battle of Brandywine. September IL. lI7f, |
and was borne in all Of the subsequent
marches and battles OF the
Revolutionary war,
Now, as to the origin and significance
of alag day" The significance you
will have already discovered: This. origin
OF Flag day was on June IA, 1889 The |
originator was George Bloch, who was
in charge OF a free kindergarten for the
poor in New York City. This patriotic
educator conceived the idea and put 1t
into execution with his obscure school
on June IA. 1889. Instantly The idea
struck a popular chord. 1t was subse- |
quently adopted by the state board OF
education. Then il was Incorporated into
the laws of New York.
AS early as June. 1861, an attempt was
made 10 establish a flag day by an act
of congress. and bill was introduced
began to make merry with II. |
and II was laid upon the table by vote |
Of 67 to 80. Other attempts at national |
legislation were made later, but never |
with any success.
The origin and significance of alag
day" coupled with the teaching OF the
history OF the origin and significance of
The flag itself, should encourage and de-
velop patriotism In our youth. Study of
the subject, reflection upon it's merit. in
spires patriotism, and inciteS the hope |
that in due season Flag day" may be-
come national holiday for our public
schools; one day In each year set apart
'or the devotion of the rising generations
10 our Star Spangled Banner"
June IA is the date of the battle OF
Sasby In 1915. the battle OF Marengo In
500 and the battle of Port Hudson, La,
n 1863. 1t is the birthday of Robert
anderson, who commanded Fort Sum
er when the civil war began QS05): Har-
let Beecher stowe the. author GSlD;
md Richard Roalf. the poet Gs3T. 1t
s the date OF the death OF Sir Harry
yane, the English patriot (1662); and
General Louis DessaiX. killed at Merango