Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-05-04
Ida Flanders History Of
Our Flag, Yesterday
and Today

| Perhaps if we were to go back to the
beginning of history concerning the
United States we could better follow
the course Of our flag and the ones that
We're before it,
Probably the very first flag that ever
floated over any part Of our country
was that Of the Norsemen under Eric
the Red.
Then in succession came the flags OF
Spain and France and England by their
explorers. Later the Dutch flag was
brought over by Dutch fur traders, the
English and French. the principal
countries that fought for ownership.
Later in the revolutionary war the
first steps taken toward a national en-
nlem was that Of the Culpepper min
ute men OF Virginia. The rattlesnake
f, flag with the immortal words of Pat
rick Henry Liberty or Death" and
/ Don't Tread on Me-" The second at
| Bunker Hill. 1t had pine tree and the
words AN Appeal to Heaven" written
beneath it,
IN l777 congress adopted the stars
and stripes. The immediate step to
this was the English union Jack in the
corner and the thirteen stripes. So the
! union jack was taken out and the thir-
teen stars put in. The first flag was
was made Of a white skirt, blue coat
and red petticoat Later the question
arose whether to add stripes or stars,
They decided to add stars for IL they
added stripes 1t would become too
Wide. They added one star for each
state admitted into tho union. There
are forty-eight stars and the thirteen
stripes are alternate red and white. Our
first naval flag carried by the priva-
teers contained thirteen stripes with q
rattlesnake diagonally across 1t with
Don't Tread on Me- written beneath
it.
On Perry's battle flag carried at the
battle on the Erie were the words of
Captain Lawrence Don't Give up the
Ship" the universal motto Of the
American navy. Texas the Lone Star
state had flag with one star on that;
that Is why she is 20 called.
The confederacy had two ffags, their
battle and national flag. The national
had three bars and a star for each state
and the battle flag had two stripes d.
agonal starting from the left and right
hand corner and making large x and
down each stripe was a row Of starr,
thirteen in all.
Our merchant vessels carry the blue
field with forty-eight stars. Our nag
today. leaving all sentiment out Of the
question. from an artistic standpoint,
beauty do not think that there Is any
other flag that has fought for human
ity as ours. Every battle has been
fought that liberty and freedom might
be supreme. 1t has been through the
trials Of war. It has been shot into
tatters. The blood Of heroes WIS shed
for It, Some have lived to tell the story
and some lie in unnamed graves on the
battlefields where they 50 valiantly fell
Youth and life was sacrificed on the
altar Of liberty and freedom that 1t
might yet wave over the land OF the
free and the home Of the brave" That
we might yet be a country. He who
does not love and revere Old Glory does
not love our beloved country and
should not be allowed to be In any.
Think what 1t would be to be without
a country. No place to call your own.
No liberty at all. Our country 10 the
most glorious on earth Ought we not
at this great crisis Of our nation to
that stirred the hearts Of our fathers;
The same love that led them to give
their lives II need be to protect our
natior Yes, we should Patriotism is
at it. light Do not let your patriotism
stop when the band stops and the
feet have gone. That isn'a
patriotism at all. Or when you are
able whether 1t Is to enlist and go IT,
the front or in the food producerst
army. The soldiers have to have
There isn't any one but what
Do something. There are more ways
than one to serve. Opportunity 10
knocking at your own door right now.
You don't have to hunt for her at ALL
she's there ahead Of you or standing by
your side and everywhere you look.
Ida Flanders, age Is,
3o2 Kenyon Ave-, Ottmwa.