The Julesburg grit-advocate., 1912-06-06
Custom of Observing Ami
vezsaIu of the Birth Of the
Stars and Stripes Nov Wide
spread In the United States.
Storp of Betsy Ross. Who
Made First Starry Emblem
For George Washington.

PUNE IA, 1912. marks the one hun
dred and thirty fifth anniversary
a Of the adoption by the Continen-
tai congress Of the American
nag, the inspiration of mighty deeds.
badge of patriotism. Countless num-
bers of men-and women, too-hAvs
given up their lives for it: widows and
children have praised their God b.
cause husbands and fathers have had
the honor of dying for it. Today tho
stars and stripes, first designed by Cen
srnl George Washington and fashioned
BY the quaint Quakeress. Betsy Ross,
floats over more than 3.5OO,OOO square
miles, including the United States, the
Philippines. Alaska. Hawaii. the canal
zone, Porto Rico, Guam and Samoa.
More than 1OoOOO,O 600 persons swear
by 1t.
Flag day IN not a national holiday,
but 1t is observed In large part Of the
Union, and the children of the public
schools hold special exercises at this
time. Flag day was originated by
George Belch, who had charge Of
frss kindergarten for the poor In New
York. Exercises in honor of the flag
were held by his pupils, and the press
commented favorably upon the idea,
which. through the aid of the Sons Of
the American Revolution, was adopted.
Philadelphia, through the efforts of
the Colonial Danes, arranged for the
observance Of Flag day at the same
time.
NATIONAL ANTHEM
A. part Of the Flag day exercises
In the public schools there will be rem
dsred many patriotic songs bearing
upon the national emblem, some Of
which have a most interesting history.
The Oldest OF these, Hail, Columbia,
HAPPY Land" was written by Joseph
Hopkinson in Philadelphia in 179S
The "star Spangled Banner" written
by Francis Scott Key. Is next in point
OF age. "America," by Francis Smith,
while not bearing upon the flag, Is
generally recognized as a national an
them. 1t was written in Andover,
Mass, and was sung for the first time
on the Fourth Of July. 1892, by the
school children Of Boston.
Francis Scott Key. during the war of
1912, watched the folds Of Old Glory
ripple and sway over the walls of
Fort McHenry until night and the
mists shut out the inspiring sight.
Knowing the persistency Of the enemy
and how small was the garrison at the
fort, he sat through the night waiting
and penned the words Of the "Star
Spangled Banner" The flag which
fioated over the fort still exists. hav-
ing been kept by the forts defender,
Colonel Arm!stead, and preserved by
his descendants.
The observance of Flag day is an
nually becoming more general through
the activity Of the American Flag as
snciation. organized Feb. II. 1898, con-
sisting Of patriotic individuals as we'll
as the flag committees of patriotic So
cietics.
WASHlNGTON'S IDEA
On Jan. .. l.1G. George Washington
made Il flag out of his family coat of
arms. which latter consisted of three
bars running across the escutcheon
and three stars in the upper portion
From That cont of arms. the Washing
ton fnmil,'s stars and stripes, George
Washington evolved the national flag
Ii WAS mt the suggestion OF Colonel
Ross that Il committee. consisting of
himself. George Washington and Rob
ert Norris, decided to call upon the