Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1915-02-24
MRS. G. F. SMITH
GAVE INTERESTING
TALK ON THE FLAG
CONTINUED from Page ~


Washington some concern, for he
wrote letters at this time to two of
his correspondents in Congress con-
tanning this request. Please fix on
some particular flag. and a signal by
which our vessels may know each
other" So at this time Benjamin
Franklin with two others, as the COM |
mittee from congress, was sent 10 con-
fer with General Washington, and
among other things TO devise a flag for
the colonies. The first decision was
to call the fiagS"The flag of the Unit
ed Colonies of America" The main
field OF the flag consisted of thirteen
stripes alternately red and white, and
the union jack as II is called in the
upper left hand corner was at first
to consist OF the st. George and st.
Andrews crosses taken OF course
from the flag of the mother country.
But before the conference was ended.
it was decided not to have the union
jack in the corner, but to have thirteen
stars. There is nothing definitely
known as to what suggested the idea
Of the stripes, unless as has been
claimed, the stripes appeared on the
coat OF arms of the Washington fam
lily. The committee explained that
the thirteen horizontal stripes would
readily be understood to represent
the thirteen existing colonies, and
that their equal width typified the
equal rank and right and responsible
tiles Of the several colonies, and the
union OF the stripes in the field of the
flag would announce the unity Of in
terest, the white stripes to signify that
they considered their demands just
/ "a nd "a
to secure their rights through peaceable,
intelligent means If possible The red
stripes at the top and bottom of the
flag would declare that first and last
and always, they had the determine
ton, the enthusiasm. and the power to
use force, whenever ii was deemed
necessary. At first the stars in the
union were arranged in a circle to
show unity also to show that no pre-
cedence was given, as each colony was
sensitive on this point.
At the time the stars and stripes
were adopted congress was sitting in
! independence Hall in Philadelphia.
There was living in the city a widow
named Betsy Ross, who for several
years had made government and other
flags. Her husband John Ross, was
son of George Ross one of the signers
Of the Declaration Of independence.
/ Her husband had died in the first year
I Of the independence from injuries re-
ceived in guarding military stores. lie
had been on upholsterer, and after
MS death, Betsy, who was but twenty
four, continued his business 1t was
to this plucky widow, that General
Washington and his committee from
Congress went to fashion a sample
flag for the United Colonies and
this was adopted by Act OF Congress
June Il, 1777. This is the birthday
of the flag. Out Of this grew the
stars and stripes as we know them ex-
cept that the stars then numbered but
thirteen and now forty-eight.
Washington had made preliminary
pencil drawing, representing a flag of
thirteen stripes, and a field or union
of the thirteen stars. Washingtons
stars were siX-pointed. At Betsy
Ross suggestion the design was
changed and five pointed stars, which
with one dextrous clip of her nimble
scissors, she sheared from a single
piece OF cloth. Were one OF these flags
which Betsy Ross made under the
direction of Washington. now in exist
ence. it would be worth its weight in
SOlu, stan ana all. But tneSe inter-
esting emblems of the new republic,
pierced by the shot Of many a battle
field, soaked by the rains. stiffened in
the freezing sleet. were torn TO rib
bons and shreds. long before that
terrible seven years of war were over
and the independence they signified
was nobly won.
Betsy Ross was originally a Quaker
ess, but later attended Christ church
in Philadelphia, where her pew, No
-, is still pointed out. For many
years after the Revolutionary war
she had a contract with the FEEDER.
government TO make flags for mil
tary, naval and state use. After her
death the business was continued by
her daughter, who continued it until
her death in 1857. Betsy Ross was
called a Little Rebel by the British
troops and was threatened with hang
ing for her act, but she long survived
the Revolution.
1t may be interesting to know that
Mrs Ross house the Betsy Ross
House" it is called is still standing at
239 Arch street. The little house to
which tradition gives an age Of over
200 years, with the statement, that
it was built of bricks brought over
by Penn as ballast i'm the good ship
I Welcomes still being cared for
by patriotic Americans and is preserv-
ed as it stood in Revolutionary days.
1t has been restored to it's original
state and contains many relics Of it's