The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-02-01

By the Smithsonian Institute. lHNODAY probably several million II American flags are waving se- renely in the varied breezes of our spacious land, significant of the calm and dignified, yet deep and last l ing, patriotism of the American people, Be this our nativ9 land or adopted country, we pledge allegiance to that 1 flag, uncover as we pass. and wear it in miniature as token of our loyalty. And yet what do we know about it's origin, it's meaning, and it's history? A tional museum in Washington. the na- tional depository of American relics, will teach much concerning 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 If, 1777 now celebrated as Flag Day. This act required that the flag of the United
 
 ternate red and white. and that the union be 1s white stars on blue field, but it did not define how many points the stars should have, how they should be arranged, nor make provisions for additional ones.
 One of the first occasions for public display of the Stars and Stripes is said to have been on August 6, 1777 when the new flag 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, TIT. The National Museum has an early naval 12-star type flag said to have been flown by John Paul Jones during the War of the Revolu- ton.
 From the time of the Revolution the stars and stripes in the flag have varied. There were 13 stars during the Revolution, Is in the War of 1872, 29 in the Mexican war. s3 to s5 in the Civil war, 45 in the Spanish war, and 4s today. The stripes were changed first from IS to IS, and then back again to IS. It may be surprising to know that our national flag is among the oldest flags of the nations, being older than the present British Jack, the French Tricolor, 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 American flag of the highest historical and sentimental value to the whole country is in the National Museum collections. It is the original Star-Spangled Banner, which flew over Fort McHenry, in Baltimore harbor. during the bombardment on September 1914, 1874, and was the inspiration of Francis Scott Keys immortal poem. now sung as our national anthem. It is of the 15-star and dstripe type, adopted after the admission of Vermont and Kentucky by an act approved by Presi- dent Washington, January 13. 17s4 The Star-Spangled Banner measures about 30 feet square, though 1t was probably somewhat longer, and is much bat tered and torn. with one star missing. possibly shot away.
 From 17s5 this form continued as the standard flag until President Monroe's administration. when Congress enacted that it should thereafter be of 1s stripes and 20 stars, with the addition of a star for each new state. commence ing July 4, 1918.
 It seems that for many years the army did 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 be- fore carried what were known as na- tional colors or standards of blue, with