Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-05-13
URGE OBSERVANCE
Of FLAG DAY HERE
NATIONAL MOVEMENT TO HONOR
coLoRs OF COUNTRY APP
PEALS TO ALL PEOPLE.
OLD GLORY's BIRTH
Public offic:' Societies and School
ChiIdrei. -ked to Celebrate
Anniversary on
June Ia.
OLD GLoRY's BIRTH

The National Flag association, q
movement to honor the colors of the
country, has issued circular In the
nature of an appeal to the president,
the governors of each state, mayors of
each city, editors, school officers and
teachers, American patriotic societies
and all American citizens, to make q
special effort to observe June IA 40
Flag day. The occasion has been OBJ
served for the past eighteen years in
various parts of the country and in Of
tumwa the g. A. R., and w. r. c., have
had appropriate programs honorlng
"Old Glory" The schools have taken
up the plan of the flag association and
fitting observances are held in many
parts of the United States.
The circular appeal being sent out
by the association has the following:
We call upon all American citizens
and earnestly invite them to Join in
the public recognition Of the birthday
of the emblem Of our nationality.
In many of the states, pursuant to
law, in the public schools exercises
will be conducted in celebration Of
Flag day. BY voluntary impulse let
this also be done in private schools.
Let us extend this practice. Teach
the story of the Flag, what it repre-
sents, and have the young people
pledge their fealty and loyalty to it.
On the 14th day Of June, LIT, con-
gress enacted: THAT the flag of the
thirteen United States be thirteen
stars, white in blue field, represent
ing q new constellation" The num-
Der of the stripes having been in
creased by the admission of new states
the possibilities of the nations future
development dawned upon our fathers,
the original thirteen stripes were un-
changeably restored by act of congress
on April 4, 1918, when it was enacted:
THAT from and after the fourth day of
July next, the flag of the United States
be thirteen horizontal stripes, alter
nate red and white; that the union be
twenty stars, white in blue field, and
that on the admission of new state
into the union one star be added to the
union OF the flag, and such addition
take effect on the fourth day Of July
next, succeeding such admission"
Since the struggle of 1861-1865, the
flag has become the symbol of a
mighty nation. 1t has been carried to
the utmost parts Of the earth, carry
ing liberty wherever 1t has been
thrown to the breeze.
At this time of the great European
war, the limits of its baleful influences
are not confined to the theater Of the
awful conflict, but our own country Is
In great danger of being involved In
it's consequence and patriotism and
love of our wonderful country Is called
for more than ever, that we may
be watchful against those who would
involve us and do us i'll.
We are now in the midst of an anxi.
Gus time in all our nation, again call
ing for an express of our most sincere
devotion to the flag of our country and
what it stands for. The stars and
stripes, have come to possess new
beauty for friendly eyes and new ter
ror for the foes of liberty and Of law
and order, and Of lawful government
We respectfully appeal to the presi-