Evening star., 1917-04-08
HISTORY Of FLAG 1
ALL j. S. REvERES
Adopted by the Continental
Congress June
"a, 1777.
DISPLAY AT ROME, N. Y.

DISPLAY At ROME, N. Y.
Today probably several million Amer-
can flags are waving serenely In the
varied breezes Of this spacious land. sig
nificant Of the calm and dignified. yet
deep and lasting patriotism Of the Ameri-
can people. Be this our native Land or
adopted country, we pledge allegiance to
that flag, uncover as we pass, ana wear
it in miniature as a token Of our loyalty.
And yet, what do we know about It's
origin, its meaning. and Its history
lecture trip to the United States Ma
tional Museum in Washington. tho ma
tional depository Of American relics. will
tell you much Of the flag.
Naturally there were many forms of
early flags, especially colonial types used
by the individual colonies, and militia
regiments, before the flag Of the United
States was established by our Continental
Congress on June IA. 1777. now celebrated
as Flag day. This act required that the
flag of the United States be Of thirteen
alternate red and white stripes and that
the union be thirteen white stars on
ton, but It did not define how many
points the stars should have. how they
should be arranged. nor make provision
for additional ones.
At the time Of the adoption OF TINS rsso-
luton, Washington is said to have OBJ
served, 1--WE take the star from heaven.
the red from our mother country, sep
arating It by white stripes. thus showing
that we have separated from her. ana tho
white stripes shall 60 down TO po5teffty
First Display at Rome, N. Z.
The first display Of tho ''StAfS and
Stripes" is believed to have been on Au-
gust s, 1877. when the new nag was
hoisted over the troops at Fort Schuyler.
Rome, N. Y. 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. 1777. The Nauonai
Museum has an early naval. ewefve-etar
type flag, said to have been down by
John Paul Jones during the war OF the
1t has been we'll said that our ma
tional emblem stands Tor American
ideals and ideas-it is not the nag OF
family or a house. but the dag of the
whole people. It is the emblem OF lib
erty and freedom, being indicative OF
Individual independence and yet sym
bolic of a united and closely bonded
people. Far from being merely painted
and dyed cloth, it represents the Con-
stitution and government OF hundred
million free people. 1t stands tor the
people themselves and records the MS
tory of their nation.
In the National Museum, among the
many other patriotic relics ana en-
blems. are displayed thirty historic
American flags. On the labels the his
tory of each Is recorded: some came
from the field of battle. number from
famous sea fights and others were flown
over garrisons or forts by distinguish
ed American officers.
Changes in the Flag.
The series of flags show very we'll
the periodic changes which have taken
place in our flag. From the time OF the,
revolution the stars and stripes in the
flag have varied. There were thirteen
stars during the revolution. fifteen in
the war of 1912. twenty-nine in the
Mexican war. rty-three-thirty-five in
the civil war. forty-five in the Spanish
war and forty-eight today. The stripes
were changed first from thirteen to fif-
teen. and then back again to thirteen.
1t may be surprising to know that our
national flag is among the oldest flags
of the nations, being older than the
color and the flag of Spain, and many
years 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 Spangled Ban
ner." which flew over Fort McHenry.
in Baltimore harbor. during the bonn
Il
was the inspiration of Francis Scott
Keys immortal poem. now sung as our
national anthem. This flag, exhibited
in the Museum Arts and Industries
building. also known as the Fort Nc
Henry Flag" is of the fifteen star-and-
stripe type, adopted after the admission
of Vermont and Kentucky by an act ap-
proved by President Washington, JanIl-
ary 13. 1874. The Star Spangled Ban
ner" measures about thirty feet square.
longer. and is much battered and torn.
with one star missing. possibly shot
away.
This great historic souvenir Of the
war of 1872 has lately been preserved
by quilting on heavy linen and will
ever remain one of the country's most
precious relics. From 1895 this form
as the standard flag until
President Monroe'S administration.
when Congress enacted that IT should
diAeT pe OI SIT1pcSS Win
the addition of a star for each new
state. commencing July 4. 1878.
Its Use in Land Battles.
1t seems that for many years the army
lid not carry the Stars and Stripes in
battle, though it had been In general
use as a garrison flag. The land forces
during this period and before 1t car
ried what was known as national colors
Or standards of blue with the arms OF
the United States emblazoned thereon.
an eagle surmounted by
number of stars, with the designation
Of the body of troops. In 1894 War
regulations gave the artil-
ery the right to carry the Stars and
Stripes. the infantry and cavalry still
Using the national standards, and those
the coiorS of the infantry un-
ii lS4l. and of the cavalry until 1887.
when that branch of the army was or
Tered to employ the Stars and Stripes.
From its adoption in 1717, however.
laval vessels universally displayed the
flag.
Many styles and forms of the stars
and stripes flag were in existence up TO
1872 and IT was not until during Pres-
lent Taft's administration that definite
specifications were drawn up An execu-
i've order, dated October 20. 1912. tended
10 standardiZe the STARS and Stripes
and yet further specifications in sizes
were found necessary by President Will
son. only last year.
Carried First in Mexican War.