Evening journal., 1915-12-30

Completing the first requirements.
we publish today the history OF the
American flag and the customary
forms of respect due to it.
At the outbreak OF the Revolution,
a number of standards came into ex-
issence and were borne by the contin-
gents from the different colonies
prominent among these being the
Pine Tree flag and the well-mown
insignia OF the coiled serpent with the
motto Don't Tread ON Me-" The re-
cessity was soon felt of having a dis
tinctly American flag that should rep
resent the common cause for which
all were struggling. The story goes
that i'm 1716 a committee of the Con-
tinental Congress. of which George
Washington was member. called
upon Betsy Ross, Philadelphia
widow residing on Arch street. and
ARRANGED with her to make an Ameri-
aaq- -fae for the use of the army. and
It Is said that she suggested the use
of tho 1ve.pointed star. This tradi-
tion Us very pretty one, and may
be trL,, although there is nothing in
tn records TO prove it The facts as
known are that in June, lIf7, the Con
gress passed a resolution providing
for an American flag To consist of a
standard with a blue union in the up
per corner next TO the stan, upon
which union were thirteen white
pointed stars arranged In the form
of a circle There were thirteen red
and white stripes arranged alternate
ly. the top and the bottom stripes he
ing red Seven stripes were on line
with the union and six stripes wnre
below the union. This flag was first
carried at Cooch's Bridge in Delaware
In September l717 at preliminary
skirmish before the battle OF Brandy
Wine Il is said that Captain John
Paul Jones carried the first flag at
the masthead of his ship that was sa'
lutcd by q foreign power. a French
admiral rendering the honor. IL was
intended to add both star and a
stripe for each new S, te. and this
was done up to the year 1915 The
dag borne by our troops during the
War of 1912 with Great Britain had
fifteen stars and stripes. Il is saic
that the number of ttripes reached
twenty. In 1918. however, Congress
passed a law making the flag as il Is
now That is. the stripes were put
back to the original thirteen. repre-
senting the original thirteen colon
les and the stars were made TO b'
the same as the number of States IN
the Unicn When new State is add
ed. the new star is placed on the flal
on IN. Fourth of July following th'
admission. There are az present forty
eight stars, arranged IN six rows o
eight each
When the troop as q whole salute
the color the bugles should blow It
tho color" and the troop color shoul
dip. A scout should know that IN
national color renders no sa,ute'
That is. il is never dipped or lowere
in salute. never even TO the Presidef
OF the United States. On Memoirs
Day it should be half-masted frol
sunrise TO noon and full-masted frol
noon to sunset.
When the colors are carried past
a parade. salute. AT retreat stan
al attention and salute at the last moi
of the Spangied Banner" or II
the Color" whichever is played. IN
music should conclude as the ha
reaches the foot Of the pole. Whe
handling the flag be careful TO 81
that no part of il touches the groun
To half mast raise to top of pole an
then lower to half mast positio
Again raise to top before taking do"
at sunset. Colors should be raised
sunrise and lowered at sunset.
Tenderfoot requirements Will
completed in next weeks issue
Another course in First Aid will
started at the Y NJ. c. A. on Frid'
evening, January z. Dr.. John
Fisher. stan surgeon, will be
charge OF the course. The fee for d
course of ten lessons is very reaso
able and every scout who has not hi
this training under DR.. Fisher is mis-
ing a good deal. Wilmington lea
the country in the number Of scou
~ who have taken the Red Cross woi
Iii let MS keep ahead The Y. NJ. c.
4 holds this course especially for SCOT
Nj and others interested in the subie
hi Drop into the Y a. c. A. and ia
the matter over with Mr.. Davis,
a. r educational secretary.
n Troops Nos. ? and provided 81
fral worthy families with chr'stn