Jackson County sentinel. (Gainesboro, Tenn.) 1914-current, 1917-06-14
Flag Day. June II.

of Congress- became the official flag of the United States
Previous to this at different times different occas
ions, numerous fags-nearly seventy it is said in
ber-h had loated over the Colonies
The flag of the thirteen United Colonies which
was first raised at Washingons headquarters in Cam
bridge, Mass January End, 1776 had thirteen stripes,
alternate red and white the union being the of
st. Andrew and ST. George blue field and this flag,
undoubtedly carried something of suggestion for the
design of the Star and Stripes"
In response to a request from General Washington
that flag should be adopted which would enable the
American vessels to recognize each other committee
appointed by Congress to take into consideration
the designing of such flag Every school boy knows
the story of how this committee, of which Washington
was member called on Mrs. Betsy Ross. the widow
of John Ross, an expert needlewoman who conducted
the upholstery business at her homethe house is
239 Arch Street, below Third Street. Philadelphia and
arranged with her to make the flag. A design was
shown her. and she suggested that Washington re-draw
it. which he did, You remember how she also suggest
ed that the stars should be five-pointed and taking
piece of paper she folded it deftly and witha cut of
scissors, showed how readily these vepointed stars
could be made.
From the design as re-drawn, was made the first
''Star-Spangled Banner"
On the date mentioned, June 14th, 1777 the COM
mtee reported to Congress- and the following resolu
ton was passed:
'Resolved-That the flag of the thirteen United
States be thirteen stripes alternate red and white that
the union be thirteen stars white In blue ted repre-
senting new constellation"
At the time of the adoption of this resolution Wash
ington said We take the star from Heaven, the red
from mother country separating it by white stripes
thus showing that we have separated from her. and the
white stripes shall go down to posterity representing
Liberty"
1t is said that the order following the adoption of
the new flag was not officially promulgated until Sept
emher of that year, although August 9Th the new
flag probably first hosted troops at Fort Schuy
Ter at Rome N Y. 1t is said to have been first raised
over a vessel by Paul JONES' on the Ranger" in Nov
ember, l777 The first record we have of its being
carried by the army in battle was September 18th, i777
at the Brandywine.
This flag of thirteen stripes and thirteen stars
mained without change, the flag of the country until
1874 when on account of the admission of Vermont and
and Kentucky it ordered by Congress that and
after May lst 1885, the flag should be fifteen stripes
alternate red and white and the union fifteen stars,
white in blue field. The growth of the country gave
in time to come there would be many states
too many to admit of star and stripe for every state
and So April 4th, 18tS Congress passed the following
act
THAT from and after the fourth of July next, the
flag of the United States be thirteen horzonto stripes
alternate red and white that the union be twenty stars
white in blue field, and that the admission of
State into the Unon one star be added to the nnon of
the flag. and such addition take effect the fourth
day of July next succeeding such admission"
Since this act was passed. from time to time, new
states have been admitted and stars have been add
ed to the union of the flag and today the union con-
tans contains the orty-eight stars-siX of eight
stars EACH with the corresponding stars of each row in
a vertical lne
1t is interesting to note that during the War of
the Revolution the number of stars was thirteen; in the
of 1872 fifteen; in the Mexican War; twenty-nine;
in the Civil War. thirty-fve; in the Spansh-Amercan
War, forty-fve; and in the German-Amercan War,
forty-eght.
Perhaps you do not know that the American Flag
the Stars and Strips is among the oldest of national
banners 1t older than the present British Union Jack
older than the French Trcolor older than the flag of
Spanish-and many years older than the flags of Ger
many and Italy
1t is said Americans are particularly demonsrative
toward their national flag and give it especial promn-
1t national flag and belongs TO the whole peo-
ple not only collectively but individually and each cit
izen feels that it is his flag while the flags of many 9TH
countries are personal fags-fags of the reigning
family, or flags of some particular arm of service.
continued to End page)