The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-06-12
LETTERS TO THE
EDITOR
The Flag Day Observance.

Editor, Times: Once more we ask TO
a little space in your paper, that we ma,
bring to the minds of its readers the fac
that Wednesday, June ID, will be hal
day, the l39th anniversary of the brit
of our flag.
We hear great deal in these days
about true Americanism. II is the great
national issue and we want Americanisn
that will show Old Glory the respect due
for it stands for legality, majority rule
honest business, equal rights for men and
women, purity in social life and in the
home unity
| Our flag is the emblem of equal rights
it means free hands and free lips and self
government. The flag was given to the
air in the Revolutions darkest DAYS like
the banner of heaven. II sthe child OF
storm and sun. The honor of being the
| first TO carry one country's flag around
the world is assigned to the ship Column
bia, which, under command of Captains
Hendrick and Gray, circumnavigated the
globe in 1890.
As we look for information in connec.
ton with our flag, we would not forget
that the men I'VE call old veterans took
this flag in 1851 with black spot upon
it, representing 100000 slaves right in
our own borders. Young people can
hardly think it true to-day, but these
boys shed sufficient blood to wash the
flag and make ii clean. and it came back
to us clean and pure, without a spot.
Fault was found with Abraham Lin
coin because he did not liherate the
slaves at once. COMMITTEES after com
mitttee went to him, but he stood firm.
He said, 81 will save the union with
slavery If can, without it il / must,
and when the right time came, 100000
slaves were free.
Our flag has been called "a floating
piece of poetry" It's highest beauty is
in what it symbolizes. It's stripes of al
alternate red and white proclaim the orig
inal union of IL states to maintain the
declaration of independence. The very
colors have language which was off
cially recognized by our fathers. The
patriotic women's societies are placing
the flag in the schools and churches, for
IL is true the citizens of the future are
the children of to-day. Therefore,
through them we shall reach the home.
We regret we have no national law
against dissertation of the flag but we
rejoice that many of our states have
adopted flag laws. Let the boys and
girls, as they look upon the flag, be true
patriots, true Christian citizens, and |
may they realize that it means some
thing to be an American citizen.
This spotless flag is legacy left us by |
the men of the Grand Army of the Re
public. Do we remember that out of
their ranks have come six presidents of |
the United States, governors of every
northern state, besides lieutenant gov
srnors and hundreds of other officers.
Let us remember these men and their
leeds as we display the flag on the i'm
oortant patriotic anniversary of its
birth, and may we be able to impress
yreat truths upon the rising generation,
ipon the stranger who has come within
,ur gates TO a new life, and to those who
reed inspiration of an appeal to the best
n our national life. Let us encourage
more love of country and inculcate these
principles that honor, love and uphold the
lag.
81 pledge allegiance to my flag and the
epublie for which it stands, one nation
with liberty and Justice for
III. Emma A. LAPoint.
Press Correspondent, w. r. c.