Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-04-12
WHAT OF OUR FLAG?
Many Different Forms Used by
the Individual Colonies.
Continental Congress on July IA, 1877
Established the United states Flag
Of Freedom and Liberty
Emblem.

To-day probably several million Amer
lean flags are waving serenely In the va
ried breezes Of our spacious land, signih-
cant of the calm and dignified, yet deep
and lasting patriotism Of the American
people. Be this our native land or adopt
ed country, we pledge allegiance to that
flag uncover as we pass and wear 1t i'm
miniature as token of our loyalty. And
yet what do we know about its origin, It's
meaning, and it's history. A lecture trip
to the United States National Museum in
washington, the national depository of
American relics. will tell you much Of the
flag
Naturally there were many forms Of
early flags, especially colonial types used
by the individual colonies and militia
regiments, before the flag Of the United
States was established by our continental
Congress on July IA, III. now celebrated
as Flag day. This act required that the
flag Of the United States he Of 10 alter
nate red and white stripes and that the
union be 10 white stars on a blue field.
representing a new constellation, but 1t
did not define how many points the-stars
should have. how they should be ar
ranged, nor make provision for additional
ones.
At the time of the adoption Of this reso.
| sarved ..xXo .oL. ,ha ,.o,, fro,,, hoa,,o,,
the red from our mother country. separat
Ing 1t by white stripes. thus showing that
we have separated from her. and the
white stripes shall go down to posterity
representing liberty"
THE FIRST DISPLAY
The first display Of the STARS and
stripes Is believed to have been on Aug
us' D. i"'. "hen the new nag was hoist-
Gu over tne troops at Fort schuvier.
norie' Az 1. 1ohn faui 1ones' is SAID 10
nave peeh the nrst 10 ny the stars ana
stripes over the nieh seas on the ran
ger IN november l'H. The National
Museun, mas nm carry navai lz-s'ar type
nag said 10 nave neen nown oy John
faui Jones curing the war OF the ReVo-
'ution.
IL mas peen well said that our nationai
emblem STANDS Tor american Ideals ana
ideas-it Is not the nag OF FAMILY or a
mouse, nut the nag OF the "hoie people.
IL is the emblem OF hperty and freedom'
neing indicative OF individual indepen-
oence ana YET sympoiic or united and
closely ponded people. Far from peinS
merely painted ana dyed cloth' 1t repre-
aen.s .ne ,,',,,u anu sC.e' -. -.
.~N 80. 81 ,.', .,I,' peop' =. s Az .
, .no peope t..a Oil" ieo"S '''''
na ,
W o. " ",.H w.
."o 80! az ~,N.., CIV
49,. a.. a. ~. 49,, - ,,... "a
.. q; ,a.s -. 49, .
e.,s - ,..tn ,t. 80. ~
aSS. - 49,. - s..
r;sn,,. 49, 49, ~ s,st;n,,ishaa A,s,a-,o. :,
aSao..,
~. ...,., ~, a... .h.,, ,,..,, ,,,.,, a..
,.r,ns,o oss.. .'.s,.,, 49, -. .s
~ a',n a. r. A. .,.a. -. ~ b.
,n.,o,, tha 90 =. 49, .tr,ns. l., 80 a..
49, $50 nj, 81. 90
~. p.,.o,,.,,r ~ l., 49, W. 20 toIo oe
~ 49, Mo.,o.n ,ror ., * l., 49,. C,,,;, ~, =
* ~, ,ha sn.n,.h n,or aua &c .o.d.v ~,
str,,.. ~. oh.m.aa a.. go, :, =.
* and +hsn hail aeo,n 90 "a :. wa. he
srrrris;rg 70 Lnoy, th.t o,r national a. .
. 10 a.,o,, ~. oiSos. g.. - .ha ,o.;nr.
h.,,,- Ia, .h. 49, -. p.,.;.. ys.,,
, ~ Er.rn,, rr;co,or "a ~ a.. - sn.,n
and many ye.rs cider than tho aags -,
C.r,,a,,, 49, I,,I,, son,o -, ,,,,iot 49,,
oi.hnn ,or.ona, a.. -. thos. =. .ha -,
, trs .. r,iitas
, Op,CINAI srAp sp>>cr aA>,>,rr
,
, me nag Oh tne hshest historic ane
!, sentiments! Value 10 'he who'e country II
=
ID tne Original otar opansieo Banner
wh'ch ne" over rort Mcienrs III naiti
more HarooI. uur,ns '"e commandments oi
oep'e'"oer i'-i4' 1911 anu was tne "'siir
at'oh OF FRANCIS Scott Ney immorta
poem no" sung as our na'lohai ahtnen'
: ms rag e*n'o,'eu III tue museum "r''
- anu INDUSTRIES po'ions' also known az
'he rort McHe"rS has' IL OF the 10
. @'ai.a"u-s''ipe !Pe' ""op'eu ai'er 'h
= au"uSs'o' Vi vernon, an. Ne".uck! o.
= an ACT approved o! Fres'oent wash'ne
tor' Januar! Id 1857 Inc star spahsie'
. banner measures ABOUT W ieet square
'ho"s" " was Prooapiy sorhewhat longer
ana is much battered ana torn' with ON
star missing. possibly shot away. I'M
:, klea, "'s'o'' souvenir oi tne war
= 1917 mas 'a.e'E oeen preserved ny quiit'h'
OH neSVS hnel' ana VIII ever remain on
oi the country most precious rehcs
=. from 1850 th's FORM continued as IN
= standard nag until PRESIDENT monroe
" ADMINISTRATIONS when congress enacte'
INA. " s"o"u hereatter DC Oh Id stripes
Win 'he aoo'''oh OF star Tor each new
state commencing july 4. 1918.
II seems 'nat lot many years the arm
u'u ho. carry tne otars ana Stripes II
oa'''e thoush II hao oeen III general us
as garrison nag. Inc iand FORCES dnr
n ing this PERIOD ana oeiore H. carried VIVA
was known az national coiors or stand
] ards. OF piue with the arms OF the Uni
ted states empiazoned thereon' compris
ing an eagle surmonnted by nnmbe