The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1912-08-02
HISTORY OF FLAG.
Some Interesting Facts About the Flag
OF This Country.
NOW CONTAINS 4S STARS.

OlePk
The Kansas City Jru...
published some interesting history about
the flag of this country. Augustus Bed
ford, who is grandson of Peter H.
Wendover, who claimed the credit for
designing the American flag, gave some
flag history now generally forgotten.
He said the first flag was brought by
John Cabot in 1897. Cabot landed on
the coast of Massachusetts, and there
planted the flag of England, a white
ground with red st. George cross.
This was our flag from 1897 to 1856, he
said, end was followed by the flag of
New England. which was brought over
December 20, 1886. The only difference
in it from the former flag was that
tkere was wider cross and at the top
of the cross there was crown repre-
sentirg the authority of the king.
'This was the flag" he said, "until
1907, when England and Scotland be-
came united. Then it was changed by
making the body red instead of white
and putting in the canton the English
cross of St. George and the Scottish
cross Of st. Andrew, which was white
on blue ground.
"When the king signed document
that was official or required seal, he
would sign "Jacobus Rex" in English.
"James, the King" but when signing
a document of lesser Importance, he
would sign Jacques. From this the
flag known as the Kings union became
known as the Jacques Union, and from
this comes our word when speaking of
the canton as the Union Jack.
"The Kings Union remained our flag
until October, ITS, when the CONT
tinental congress adopted flag for the
navy which was white ground with a
pine tree and over it the words, AN
Appeal from Heaven This was the
first flag adopted by the Americans. A
number of flags were used unofficially.
A flag was used in Massachusetts known
as the Cambridge flag in January, 1776,
which was designed by General Wash
ington. 1t had thirteen stripes and the
English Union Jack. This flag was
carried by Washington's troops for six
months.
1.-The first flag of stars and stripes
was designed by General Washington
and under his direction was made by
Betty Ross. When Washington drew
out the design, he made six-point
star. Mrs. Ross said she did not wan
to make the flag with that shape of ;
star because when the flag was unfurlet
it would look too square. She said ;
six-point star was sign of heraldr.
and that if you looked into the heavens
the stars looked as if they were five
pointed. This flag was adopted Jun
IA, 1777, and remained our flag unit
May l, 1895.
Kentucky and Vermont were tn
two first states to be added to the orig
nal thirteen colonies and they asked
be represented on the flag. Then tn
flag was changed from thirteen stripe
and thirteen stars to fifteen stripes an
fifteen stars. This was the flag unit
1918, when other states wanted repr'
sentation on the flag.
"It was then that Mr.. Wendover ol
jected. 1t seemed to be determined
Congress that the flag should
changed in some manner. A number
designs were offered, but Mr.. Wen
over insisted that the flag be plac'
back to 13 stripes and there be
stars representing all of the state
The bill failed to pass. In 1918 M
Wendover presented bill to the effe
that the flag should have l3 stripe
seven red and six white, with BIZ
field with twenty white stars and a st
to be added for each state on July
succeeding the admission of such stat
The bill was passed April a, 1918, a
this is the flag of today. At present
has 4s stars, two having been add
July 4th, this year.