The Twin Falls times. [volume] (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1905-1916, 1916-06-15
:: T history Of the American Flag :
By c. D. THOMAS
Read at The Elks Flag Day Program Wednesday Eveni

IN June 18th, 1777, the "Stars and
Stripes" by act of congress, be-
came the official flag of the
United States. Previous to this at
different times and on different occa-
sions, numerous flags-nearly seventy,
it is said, in number-had floated
over the colonies.
The flag of the thirteen United Col
onies, which was first raised at Wash
ington's headquarters in Cambridge,
Mass. January End, 1776, had thirteen
stripes, alternate red and white, the
union being the crosses of st. Andrew
and ST. George on a blue field; and
this flag, undoubtedly, carried some
thing of a suggestion of the "Stars
and Stripes"
In response to a request from Gen
eral Washington that a flag be adopt
ed which would enable the American
vessels to recognise each other,
committee was appointed by congress
to take into consideration the design
ing of such flag Every school boy
knows the story of how this commit
tee, of which Washington was a mem
Der, called on Mrs. Betsy Ross, the
widow of John Ross, an expert nee
dlewoman who conducted the uphol-
stery business at her home, the house
is now 239 Arch street, below Third
street, Philadelphia, and arranged
with her to make a flag A design
was shown her, and she suggested that
Washington re-draw it, which he did.
You remember how she also suggested
that the stars be five-pointed, and
taking a piece of paper, she folded it
deftly and, with a cut of the scissors,
showed how readily these five-point-
ed stars could be made. From the de-
sign as re-drawn, was made the first
Star Spangled Banner"
On the date mentioned, June 14th,
1777, the committee reported to con-
gress, and the following resolution
was passed: Resolved, that the flag
of the Thirteen United States be thir-
teen stripes, altetrnated red and
white; that the Union be thirteen
states, white in blue field, represent
ing a new constellation"
At the time of the adoption of this
resolution, Warrington said: 1--WE take
the star from Heaven, the red from
our mother country separating it by
white stripes, thus showing that We
have separated from her, and the
white stripes shall go down to poster
ity representing liberty"
1t is said that the order following
the adoption of the new flag was no
official PRONUNCIATION until September
of that year, although on August 6tl
the new flag was probably first hoist
ed over troops at Fort Schuyler, a
Rome, New York. 1t is said to hav'
been first raised over a vessel by Pau
Jones, on the Ranger" in November
1777. The first record of it's beinl
carried by the army in battle was Sep
TENDER 18th, 1777, at the Brandywine
This flag of thirteen stripes an
thirteen stars remained withou
change, the flag of the country unit
. 1894, when, on account of the admis
sion of Vermont and Kentucky, it wa
ordered by congress that on and afte
= May LIST, 1875, the flag should be fiji
teen stripes, alternate red and white
and the union fifteen stars, white i
blue fieled The growth of the coun
try gave assurance that in time t
come there would be many states-to
many to admit of star and stripe 70
4 every state, and so, April 4th, 1871
c congress passed the following act:
THAT from and after the 4th of Jul
next, the flag of the United States b
= thirteen horizontal stripes alternat
c red and white, that the union be twer
ty stars, white in blue field, and thu
on the admission of a new state int
= the union, one star be added to til
o union of the flag, and such additio
take effect on the fourth day of Jul
next succeeding such admission
r. Since this act was passed, from tin
G to time, new states have been admi
ted and new stars have been added
the union of the flag, and today IL
Il union contains forty-eight stars, 81
n rows of eight stars EACH with the co
N responding stars of each row in vert
cal line.