Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-11-16
Estella Burnett of Bona
parte-''Our Flag"

The flag we see now Is the type
first adopted by Congress June IA,
1777. In the year of ITS Congress
appointed a committee Of which
Franklin was chairman. They said
the flag would be in kings colors, So
called as union. This flag was sa-
luted at Washington headquarters In
Cambridge. Mass, January g.. 1776;
from which it is often called the Cam
bridge flag, the flag of the union"
After the Declaration of Independence
the flag lost its points, as none ex-
cept Tories wanted to see the kings
colors." In the year 1777 when Bur-
goyne threatened an invasion of New
England and Howe, about to move up
on Philadelphia, congress appointed
another committee to design a suit
able flag.
George Washington and Robert
Morris were members of the commit
tee. They called upon Mrs. Betsy
Ross, 239 Arch street, Philadelphia,
and from a pencil drawing by George
Washington, engaged her to make
the first flag She suggested that
five-pointed star be used instead OF a
six. It is pleasant to know that Mrs.
Betsy Ross lived for many years and
made flags for congress. She made
them in her parlor in the back Of her
house which is still standing and is
one of the most beautiful sights of
Philadelphia. Upon her death in
1886 her daughter, Mrs. Clarissa Will
son, continued making flags for con-
gress.
In the first flags stars were put into
a circle. When the first ship APP
peared flying the stars and stripes, the
new flag, it excited the people of Can
ton very much. They said that there
was strange ship in the harbor,
bearing flag as beautiful as flower,
and everybody wanted to see the flow
er flag. Some Of the people called it
the flower flag, but the states kept
coming into the union till there are
now forty-eight There are now for
ty-eight stars and thirteen stripes.
The blue is the field which contains
the stars. A star is placed on the
flag when a state joins the union. The
stripes stand for the thirteen colonies
when America freed herself from Eng
land. We often see the dear old flag
waving on ship of some kind. They
have nick-named it "Old Glory" 1t
was first called this by Captain Driver.
Six years later Captain Driver gave up
the sea life and settled down to live
at Nashville. Tenn. He took "Old
Glory with him to his home. He al
so used it at all celebrations.
Tennessee was confederate state,
so they did not want the flag in the
country Captain Driver ripped open
the coverlet of his bed, placed between
its outer and inner covering "Old
Glory" then sewed 1t up.
In February, 1922, the Federal
troops captured the city of Nashyir-
and put the flag of the regiment IN
the state house.
An old man, sixty years old, went
to Captain Drivers house and told him
to bring out "Old Glory" The nag
was raised amid tears and cheers, Cap
tain Driver, exclaiming: II have lived
long enough"
Flags now are made by machine and
are made much easier than when Mrs.
Ross made hers.
This is the end of my story. hope
the Juniors will be pleased with it, for
know that we all love "Old Glory"
waving above US.
Here is a short poem of "Old
Glory:
Flag of our country brave,
Red, white and blue.
We love to watch thee wave
Our love is true.
o! let us loudly sing!
Loud let our praises ring.
Red, white and blue.
Your friend,
Estella Burnett. age IS.
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