Putnam patriot. [volume] (Putnam, Conn.) 1872-1962, 1913-06-20
OUR FLAG AND WHAT 1T MEANS
Honorable Mention, By
Bertha FarroWs

Years before 1776. the people Of our
country had no flag that they could
call their own.
Some of the flags in use were the
pine tree and rattlesnake flags. The
pine tree flag was white with a pic
ture of a pine tree and the words,
An Appeal Unto Heaven" The rat
tlesnake flag was also white with a
picture of a rattlesnake on it. Under
the picture were the words. Unite
or die" Another flag of this design
bore the inscription, Don't tread on
me-"
Later, the colonists had a flag
which was called the Grand Union.
This consisted of the crosses of st.
George and St Andrew and thirteen
stripes. 1t was to show that although
we recognized England as our mother
country, we were determined to fight
for our rights as English citizens.
This standard was hoisted over
Washington's camp at Cambridge.
The Declaration of Independence
signed July 4, 1875, declared America
free from England The United Col
onies" had now become new nation
and needed national flag.
In f776 action was taken by Con-
gress TO appoint a committee of three
men to design a national flag. The
men were George Ross. Robert Nor
ris and George Washington, all prom
inent men.
A pattern was made by the COM
| mittee and brought to the home of
Mrs. Betsy Ross in Philadelphia, who
was skilled in needle work.
Mrs. Ross examined it and saw
that the stars were six-pointed She
spoke to the committee and asked
them if she could change the six
pointed to five-pointed stars as the
stars in the Heavens seemed FIVE
pointed Mrs. Ross made a sample
flag and the committee found it was
just what they wanted.
The design was very much like our
present flag There were thirteen
white stars in a circle on a field of
blue and thirteen alternate red and
white stripes The thirteen stripes
stood for the thirteen original colo
MES and the thirteen stars for the
thirteen states in the union at that
time
On June IA, 1777 this flag was ad-
opted by Congress as our national
banner.
After this, Mrs Ross was given all
the flags she could make. In her hon
or, the Ross pew in the old church
which she attended in Philadelphia, is
now marked with our American flag.
At the admission of a new state
TO the Union. another star and stripe
were added TO the flag. As the states.
however, increased in number, the
people saw that our flag would be
very large and awkward. 1t was
then decided by Congress TO add only
stars 70 denote the admission of new
states.
The Stars and Stripes We're first un-
furled in battle at Coach's Bridge, Del
aware. Sept 3. 1777. The first time
IL was carried at sea was by Paul
Jones on his ship, The Ranger"
June IA, is a day appointed as Flag
Day because of the anniversary of the
adoption of our flag. On this day
flags are displayed on all public build
ings Ii is the custom for the schools
to have appropriate exercises in
which thoughts pertaining to the flag
are expressed so as to bring to mind
its meaning.
thirteen original colonies. The stars
stand for the number of states in the
Union. From the thirteen stars on
the flag of June 1777, the number has
increased until today forty-eight APP
pear on the blue field.
The government has bunting made
by American looms for all its flags.
The sizes are regulated by the Navy
and War Department.
Lessons may be taught or suggest.
ed from the colors of the flag. White
is the symbol of purity that each boy
and girl may strive to have. Red
stands for bravery and blue for truth
and Justice
Petitions have been sent into Con-
gress requesting that some action be
taken 10 prevent the dissertation of
the flag In nearly every instance
there is a certain feeling of love and
respect for the flag. There are. how
ever, the needless ones who use the
flag for purposes TO suit their desires.
such as trade marks, sofa pillows,
and the like.
recent event will prove this
statement When some of the Suf-
fragists marched through the streets
of Washington bearing the flag, the
police allowed the flags to be
wrenched from them and torn. Was
not this dissertation as we'll as insultg
In some states flag laws have been
passed TO protect the nag.
The very sight of the flag inspired
Francis Scott Key TO immortalize il
by the national hymn. The Star
Spangle Banner"
In war the greatest of care is tab
en- to preserve ~the colors."
Upon the death of any prominent
man of the nation the tag is lowered