The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1910-06-17
FLAG
133 YEARS OLD
FLAG DAY OBSERVED ALL OVER UNITED STATES

| Fl
FLAG DAY OBSERVED ALL OVER UNITED STATES
History of the Evolution Of the Stars and
Stripes--First One Of Present Design
Made in Philadelphia
Last Tuesday was Flag Day and
the Islander regrets that Friday
Harbor people did not more gener-
ally observe it by flying the stars
and stripes from the flag poles or
other places about our public build
ings or homes. 1t was the one-hun-
/ dred and thirty third anniversary
of our national emblem and owing
to the widespread observance Of
the day among the schools, indus
trial and social organizations in the
United States, it is stated that there
is no doubt but that this day will
soon be declared national holiday
by congress.
The history of the evolution Of
the Stars and Stripes throughout
the years since the Spanish flag was
first planted on the shores of Amer
lea by Columbus to the adoption Of
the present standard is perhaps the
most interesting of the flags of the
oldest nations.
Succeeding the Spanish flag, the
flag Of England was flown from the
ships and buildings for a hundred
years; this flag in 1860 was COM
bined with the flag of Scotland un-
til that period in the nation S history
when the colonists conceived the
idea of being an Independent peo-
pie, at least from the churches rep
resented by the cross of st. George,
which appeared in the upper left
hand corner of the flag. The design
of the flag was changed, eliminating
the cross at that time and later the
various colonies adopted flags of
their own particular design as
adapted to their surroundings and
indicative of some local historical
/ event.
Finally at the battle of Bunker
Hill it was found that one flag
covering all of the thirteen colonies,
which would be recognized by all
as representing them collectively
was necessary and flags having thir-
teen stripes were common. The
stripes varied in color, being white
and red, or white and yellow, red
or blue or green and yellow. What
ever the color, however, the number
Of stripes was thirteen.
In ITS the continental congress
advised the flag which had thirteen
alternate red and white stripes.
The flag had in the upper corner
a blue field in which were the red
4 cross of St. George and the white
cross of St. Andrew: This flag was
short lived; on July 2, 1776, the
American congress declared the col
onists to be entitled to the right OF
freedom and independence.
Between July 4th, lite, when the
Declaration of Independence was
adopted, and June, 1777, the new
country was without a representa-
/ tive flag. Then congress declared
the national flag to be thirteen
stripes, seven red and six white,
alternating with thirteen stars on q
blue field.
The first flag made after this de-
sign, it is said, was made under the
personal direction of George Wash
ington in house in Philadelphia,
which is still pointed out to visitors
as the birthplace of the national
flag. It is a two-story, ,dormer win
dow house Of the old colonial style.
At that time the first floor was oc-
cupied by an upholstery shop and
the flag was made by the widow
conducting the business.
i In 1878 congress passed law
that the national flag be thirteen
! horizontal stripes alternate red and
white. with twenty stars, white on
q blue field, and that every state
admitted to the Union should be
represented by an additional star or
the flag. There is now star II
B the union Of the flag to represent
) each state in the nation.
q Prof. and Mrs. E. B. Hill, O
Ridgefeld, Clarke Co., where he has
been principal Of the public schoo
s |for several years, arrived on the Ros