Deming graphic. (Deming, N.M.) 1903-1948, 1917-10-05
American Flag One of Oldest Amanq
Nations

Ndtt0nS
How many know the history of
the American flag. OF that il is older
than the flags of England. Spain,
France or GERMANY" asked lee
turer before one of the patriotic
societies recently Not one in the
large audience confessed his ac-
auaintance with the making of the
national emblem. n million or more Of
which are flving in all parts of the
United States TODAY.
There were many form, of early
flags. especially Colonial types used
bv the individual colonies aud militia
regiments before the United States
FLAG was established by the CONT
mental Congress on July II. liz. a
date now celebrated ~ FLAG dav
throughout the country. This act
required that the FLAG he of Thirteen
alternate red and white >tripc-. and
that the Union be thirteen white
stars on blue field. but il did not.
define how MANY points the stars
should have. how thew should be ar
ranged. or make provision for addi-
lional ones.
At the time of the adoption of this
resolution Washington j, sand to
4. al
from heaven. the red from our moth
er country. separating ii bv white
strpe-. thus showing that we have
separated from her, and the white
stripes shall go down to posteritv
representing liberty"
The first display of the Stars and
Stripes i believed to have been on
Aue. q. III. when the new FLAG wn-
holsied over the troops at Fort
SCHUYLER. Rome. New York. John
Paul Jones is said to have been the
first to fly the Stars and Stripes
over the high seas. on the Ranger in
November, III.
From the time of the Revolution
the STAR and Stripes in the flag
have varied. There were thirteen
stars during the Revolution. fifteen
in the war of 1912. twentv-nine in
the Mexican War. thirty-three and
thlrtyhve in the Civil War. fortv-firc
in the Spanish War and forty eight
TODAY The stripes were changed
frs from thirteen to fifteen. and
then back again to thirteen. 1t NAV
be surprising to know that our nat
ional flag is amcsg the oldest flags
of the nations. being older than the
present British Jack, the French Tri-
color and the flag of Spain. and
many wears older than the flags of
GERMANY and Italy, some of which
are either personal flags or those of
the reigning families.
The flag of the highest historic
and sentimental value to the whole
country is in the National Museum
collections. 1t is the original Star
Spanpled Banner which flew over
Fort McHenry in Baltimore Harbor
during the bombardment on Sept. l3-
II. 1914. and was the inspiration of
Francis Scott KEYS immortal poem.
now sung as the national anthem
This great historic souvenir of the
War of 1912 has lately been preserv-
ed bv quilting on heavy linen. and
will ever remain one of the country's
most precious relics. From 1895 this
form continued as the standard flag
until President Monroe's administra-
ton. when Congress enacted that il
should hereafter he of thirteen
stripes. with the addition Of n star
for each new State. commencing July
4. 1918.
IL seems for MANY wears the army
did not carry the Stars and Stripes
in battle. though it had been in gen {
erai use as garrison flag The ,
land forces during this period and (
before il carried what was known as
national colors or standards of blue
with the arms Of the United States
emblazoned thereon. comprising an
eagle surmounted BY a number of
stars. with the designation of the