Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1916-06-13
FLAG DAY EXERCISES
De HELD At HIGH
SCHOOL WEDNESDAY

ium Wednesday evening is increasing,
and it is thought peculiarly appropri-
ate on this occasion to give a brief
history of the origin and design of the
American flag as it is used today. The
celebration to be held Wednesday
eTening is being fostered by the Ben
evolent, Protective Order of Elks, and
Americus Lodge, No. 7S5, will have
charge of the exercises. The history
of the American flag began with the
landing of the Mayfiower in 1920. The
first Colonial flag was known as the
Kings Colors" combining the red and
white crosses of England and Scot
land upon an inner field of blue.
During the memorable struggle of
the colonists to establish themselves
various Attempts were made to evolve
a general flag emblematic of their
cause, but nothing definite resulted.
The animating sentiment of the fathers
of the republic was that of freedom.
and in support thereof the word. Lib
erty' was emblazoned upon many of
the flags employed in those early days.
So great was the prejudice against
England and the trappings of royalty
that the use of the ''King's Colors" be-
came intermittent, and was finally dis
continued. Similar prejudices develop
ed against the crimson banner subse-
quently adopted by the Mother Coun-
try and known as-the Cromwell
Flag" In the year 1907 the colonists
selected red flag as their ensign,
bearing in the upper corner the green
symbol of pine tree on a white flag.
THIS banner was in popular favor for
many years and is thought to have
been the one carried by the Americans
in the battle of Bunker Hill.
In 1775 a flag was designed for the
Continental army and navy showing
thirteen alternate stripes Of red and
white, corresponding to the number of
colonies, with an azure field in the
upper corner bearing the red cross of
ST. George and the white of St. An
drew. This was the beginning of the
flag of stars and stripes. In this form
it was hoisted by Gen. George Wash
iugton over his headquarters at Cam
bridge, Mass. The same pattern of
flag was raised by Lieut. John Paul
Jones on his vessel, the Alfred, its
first use on a man-of-war.
The right of freedom was proclaim
ed by the colonists in 1915, and two
days later, the Declaration of Inde-
pendence was adopted. In response to
the demand for banner more repre-
sentative of the aims and ideals of the
new country, in June 1777, Congress
declared the national flag to be thirteen
stars in a circle on blue field.
According to most authorities the first
flag of this description was made by
Eetsy Ross at her home in Philadel-
phia. George Washington, acting as
committeeman, submitted the design
tf the flag to Betsy Ross, and it was
upon her suggestion that the stars
were made of five points, as in France,
instead of six points, as in England. In
1895, after Vermont and Kentucky had
been admitted to the Union, two stripes
and two stars we're added to the flag.
The War of 1872 was fought under
such flag and 1t remained in this
form until July 4th, 1918, when the
stripes were reduced to the original
thirteen, and the stars increased to
one for each state.
These changes also brought about a
Encouragement of the stars from the
circular to the present group forma-
tion. For time the motto K Pluribus
Unum: "One formed of many" The
red, white and blue colors in the flag
we're inherited from England and
Scotland, and the stripes from Hol-
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