The Washington herald., 1910-06-12
BIRTHDAY OF THE FLAG
SaracenS First to Garry Banner Which Later Became an
Emblem.

red cross or Sl. GeOISe HodtSO AfoIl the
mast of the Mayflower IN 1920 when the
Pilgrims landed on Plymouth Rock.
Hudson sailed into New York Harbor
with the Dutch flag. a tri-color-orange.
white. and blue-and this with the let
tiers w. l. c., betokening the proprietary
rights OF the Dutch West India Company.
which noated for half a century over
Manhattan Island. while the royal ban
ner of Sweden dashed in the sunlight on
the banks OF the Delaware for brief
season.
The snowy banner Of France was plant
ed at Port Royal, in South Carolina, and
at the ST. Johns, IN Florida. but gave
way to that of Spain. which has been
reared at one time or another from the
Potomac to the Cape Sable and thence
10 the Rio Grande, and along the west
ern bank OF the Mississippi, from It's
source TO its delta, and thence westward
&c the sea. The 1eur-de-iis OF France
were long in proud sovereignty not only
in Canada, on the Kennebec. Lake Cham
plain, at Oswego, Niagara, Pittsburg. and
In the whole valley OF the Mississippi.
The tricolor of France fioated once, and
once only, on our soil for twenty days,
at New Orleans, when Spain surrendered
Louisiana to France. and before It was
transferred 10 the United States.
During the colonial and provincial
periods the use of the English flag con-
tinued from Maine to Georgia, with the
addition OF many devices and notices
Some flags were all red, with white hori-
zontal stripes, or red and blue stripes:
others were red, blue. white. or yellow.
Upon these were the pine or Liberty
Tree and the words, IAN Appeal TO
| Heaven" also stars. the crescent. an
Choir. beaver, and serpent-under the lat
ter. Don't tread on me-" A flag at the
battle of White Plains bore the words,
Liberty or Death" On January 2, 17T6,
at Cambridge. Mass, was first hoisted
| the Grand Union" flag Of the crosses
] Of st. George and St. Andrew, and the
! thirteen alternate red and white stripes,
emblematic OF the union OF the thirteen
] colonies against the oppressive acts Of
| British tyranny. This was the flag in
use when the Declaration, OF Independ-
ence was read by the Committee OF
Safety at Philadelphia, in the presence
of Washington, in New York, and from
the balcony Of the State House, in Bos-
ton.
On the 14th OF June, III. Congress re-
| solved THAT the flag Of the United
States be thirteen stripes. alternately red
and white. and that the union be thirteen
stars, white, IN a blue Aeld. representing
a new constellation" Once the stripes
were increased to fifteen. but in 1915 they
were changed back permanently 10 thir-
teen, perpetuating the original thirteen
States OF the Union: and IL was decTeed
that for every new State coming into
the Union a star should be added. The
stars have FIVE points: they were first
arranged in a circle. afterward in the
form Of a large star. and now in parallel
lines.
The flag OF Mexico was acknowledged
as supreme IN Texas, New Mexico, Cali
fornia. and Arizona, and was superseded
by the Lone Star of Texas before the
Stars and Stripes received its honors.
For FIVE years the Confederate flags
waved triumphant over most OF the
Southern States. The Russian flag was
recognized not only in Alaska. but at
Bodega Bay, Cal.
The Stars and Stripes should not be
hoisted before sunrise nor allowed TO
remain up after sunset. At retreat"
sunset. civilian spectators should stand
at attention and uncover during the
, playing of "The Star Spangled Banner. :"
Military spectators are required by regu-
lation TO stand at attention" and give
the military salute. During the playing
OF the national hymn at retreat the
! flag should be lowered but not then al
: lowed to touch the ground. When the
national colors are passing on parade. or
} in review, the spectator should. II walk
! ing. halt. and If sitting. srise and stand
B at attention and uncover.
g When the national and State, OF other
] | flags, fly together, the national fiag
! should be placed on the right When the
: flag is flown al half staff as a sign OF
mourning. IL should be h0isted TO full
!. staff at the conclusion OF the funeral.
The national salute is one gun for every
State The international salute is. IN
r der the law OF nations, tWenty-one guns
e Whenever possible the flag should be
! flown from a staff or mast. but should
: not be fastened to the side Of a build.
: ing, platform, or scaffolding-
4 When the flag is used as a banner the
Y Union should fly to the north in streets
: running east and west and TO the east
3 on streets running north and south. WheT
E flags are used in unwilling a statue OF
! monument they should not be allowed e
= fall TO the ground, but should be carried
I aloft to wave out. forming distinctive
5 feature during the remainder OF the
: ceremony.
We have made mistakes about the
. etiquette of the flag. When President
: Mckinley was assassinated thousands OF
! loyal Americans raised flags at half mast
! over their places Of business and let them
fly by night and by day until they wore
! out They undoubtedly thought they
were showing respect TO Mckinley
2 memory, but they were not showing
: proper respect to the flag. The United
+ States government displayed at that time
I its flags at half mast from sunrise q
! sunset from the Presidents death unit
: his burial. The government regulations
provide that on the death OF President
= In Office it's flag shall be displayed al
4 half mast only one day. When the fias
! is displayed at half mast 1t is lowered &
! that position from the top OF the stan
It is hoisted to the top before It is fnally