Omaha daily bee., 1917-06-10

The American flag OF the highest
historic and sentimental value to the
whole country is in the National Mus
cum collections. 1t is the original
Star Spangled Banner" which flew
over Fort McHenry in Baltimore
Harbor, during the bombardment
September 1914, 1914, and was the
inspiration of Francis Scott Keys i'm
mortal poem, now sung as our ma
tional anthem.
This flag is also known as the
Fort McHenry Flag" 1t is Of the
l5-star-and-stripe type, adopted after
the admission of Vermont and Ken
lucky by an Act approved by Presi-
dent Washington, January .l3, 1894.
The Star Spangled Banner" mea-
sures about thirty feet square, though
it was probably somewhat longer, and
is much battered and torn, with one
star missing, possibly shot away.
Not Used By Army.
This historic national souvenir OF
the war OF 1872, has lately been pre-
served by quilting on heavy linen,
and will ever remain one OF the coun-
trys most precious relics. From
1875 this form continued as the stan.
dard flag until President Monroe's ad-
ministration, when congress enacted
that it should thereafter be OF thirteen
stripes and twenty stars, with the ad-
dition OF star for each new state,
commencing July 4, 1878,
For many years the army did not
carry the Stars and Stripes in battle
though it had been in general use as
garrison flag. The land forces
during this period and before carried
what was known as national colors or
standards, of blue with the coat-of-
arms of the United States, compris-
ing an eagle surmounted by number
Of stars, emblazoned thereon, with
the designation OF the body OF troops.
In 1884, War department regula-
tons gave the artillery the right to
carry the Stars and Stripes. The in
fantry and cavalry still used the ma
tionaI standards. (Which remained the
colors of the infantry until l84l and
of the cavalry until 1887, when, that
branch of the army was ordered to
carry the Stars and Stripes. From
its adoption in 1777, however, naval
vessels universally displayed the ma
tional flag.
Standardized The Flag
Many forms OF the s-and-stripes |
flag existed until recently, for it was
not until President Taft's admins
tration that definite specifications
we're drawn up. An executive order,
dated October %, 1912, prescribed
standard sizes for the STARS and
Strires," and yet further specifications
in sizes were found necessary by
President Wilson only last year.
The history of the flag thus indi-
Gates that the STARS and Stripes" was
not officially carried by our troops in
battle until the period of the Mexican
war, 1861. Several flags of that
period are in the Museum collections.
Flag Day With Exercises.
A huge flag, donated to the county
by an Omaha business man, whose
name will not be given out until the
day of the exercises, will be raised IN
front of the court house Flag day,
June "A.
Patriotic speeches are to be made
and a salute of twenty-one guns fired
as a part of the program.
Judge Estelle will preside,
Captain c, L. Adams will present
the flag to the county on behalf of
the donor.
Spanish War Veterans drum corps
and .lrmour's Glee club will furnish
music.
The flag is 2Sx35 feet in size and is
too large to fly on any Of the flag
staffs atop the court house.
A big pole will probably be erected
On The cnurI Lnmsn lau.n