Smyrna times., 1915-11-03
STATE FLAG PRESENTED TO US
Gift Made BY the Jr. Order United
American Mechanics at Ceremony

Gift Made BY the Jr. Order United
American Mechanics at Ceremony
Several hundred persons assembled
on the historic Dover Green early
Saturday afternoon. Oct. 23rd. to
witness the presentation of the State
flag of Delaware by the Delaware
Junior Order of United American
Mechanics to the United States gov
ernment. a large platform. almost
covered with flags and hunting. stood
at the State House steps, and upon
this plaform DR.. Luther S. Conwell.
of Camden Del. presented the flag
on behalf OF the Mechanics. TO Con-
gresham Thomas w. Miller. who re-
ceived il on behalf Of the government.
The presentation ceremonies began
shortly after = &C ock and were pre-
eeded by a long street parade. in
which several hundred members of
the Mechanics. including the Uni
formed Guards of Wilmington. marched
to patriotic airs played by the Dover
Unnus 0EANE4AAUuG Al0lAA mEaAAN ENEAl
council in the State were represented
in the line. A feature of the occasion
was the singing of patriotic songs by
more than one hundred trained school
children. State Councillor. Harley
o. Riggin, of Laurel. presided over
the ceremonies, and introduced the
two speakers. In addition to Mr..
Riggin nearly fifty officers and MEM
bers of the State Cou-cil occupied
seats on the platform. The commit
tee on arrangements. consisting Of
T. F. Dunn. W. p. Forkum. W E
Maloney. H. c. Taylor and A. B.
Baxter. also occupied seats on the
platform. During the presentation
Of the flag the members of the Uni
formed Guard stood st attention on
the front of the platform. In pre-.
senting the flag DR.. Conwell gave a
description Of various flags. together
with their history. After an appro-
pirate speech the flag, which is Of
blue with an old huff diamond in the
center upon which is the state coat
of arms was handed over 10 Congress-
man Miller. who accepted it amid
loud applause Congressman Miller.
in his speech of acceptance. pointed
out that the national government at
Washington celebrates Flag Day.
which comes on June 18th. under the
auspices of the Postmaster General,
when il is the custom to drape the
rotunda in the pOstOffice building with
flags Of every state in the union. On
these occasions, the Congressman ex-
planned, il has been necessary for
Delaware to loan the flag which flies
from the State House. while nearly
every other state has presented the
government with a state flag. As
the Delaware General Assembly did
not see fit to make an appropriation
- purchase a flag to be given to the
government the Junior Order of Uni
ted American Mechanics came for.
ward and asked if fisg would be ac.
eepted from them. The proper au-
thorities at Washington readily agreed
70 accept the flag, and the speaker
declared that it was at the request oi
the Postoffi.e Department that he wa.
present to accept the flag on behalf
of the government He pointed out
that the flag is one Of the first few
flags designed hy the Delaware Flaf
Commission. created by the Genera
Assembly Of 1913. and which was ar
eepted by the last Legislature as thu
official flag of Delaware. He CAV,
in detail the meaning Of the vario1
eolors and design of the flag. arc
quoted from the history Of Delaware
to show that our little state playeu
very important part in the Revolll
tiOnaTy War