The Glenwood post., 1920-03-13
use'e Tets sea 7'.e s'st'ss
Current Events For the Children
and orown-ups, Too
mo RED WITHOUT THE
WHITE AND BLUE

eyes, jack answered his uncle. ~
could tell you a long story about the
history of our flag but believe what
will be still better, is to tell you what
our flag stands for and how certain
people are trying to tear it down and
place another in its place. First 7
will tell you a little about how our flag
came into being. The American flag
was born on June IA, 1777, about one
year after the first representatives of
the United States of America had
pledged to support the declaration Of
independence, if necessary with their
lives. The creation Of this first flag,
which contained the same number Of
rec and white stripes as it contaius TO-
day, that is, thirteen for the original
states, but different only in that tie
stars were arranged in a circle, was
made the subject of resolution in the
Continental congress. The committee
of the Continental congress which
handled the work now handled our
naval affairs committees as known MS
the Marine committee. 1t was from
this committee the resolution proclaim
ng the Stars and Stripes was reported.
resolution contained I will read it to
You.
" Resolved, That the Marine Com
mittee be empowered to give such di-
rections respecting the continental
ships of war in the river Delaware, as
they think proper in case the enemy
succeed in their attempts on said riv-
er.
:" Resolved, That the flag of the
thirteen United States be thirteen
stripes, alternate red and white; that
the union be thirteen stars, white in a
blue field, representing new constel.
lation.'
"There is more to the resolution but
this is the part which applies directly
to the fag'
what do the colors in our flag
mcan?" asked Ruth, who had become
greatly interested.
First OF all, Ruth, our dag stands
for liberty. When you look at it you
should not just see the colors which it
contains and the design which is 30
beautiful but you should see the entire
nation. The American flag has never
stood Tor castles and kings and dicta-
tors. 1t stands as Il protection TO all
loyal citizens, and as an invitation 10
us and come under the protection of
its folds. The colors have a real mean
ing. The red stands for courage the
white for purity and the blue for 10y
atty, truth and justice. The star sig
nifies dominion, While we are on the
subject of the colors ] will show you
what difference color can make when
it stands far something wrong instead
of something right. AS / just told
you, the led in Old Glory is for cour-
age, courage to stand for those things
which are right. 10 keep the orinci
pies upoI which oJr government was
founded f.om being supplauted by die
tators ana foes of liberty and jrs e.
Our forefathers, the men who started
our government, signed the Declaration
I nf M ~
that this country could not 90 ahead
under the dic,a,;on aud tyranny of
King George, who was then king of
England. 1t was wonderful docuu gu
they deF.llad. In its text we read tina.
the principle thought set forth was the
fact that, 'all men are created equal
that they are endowed by their Great
or with .e,,in inalicnable Rights that
among these are Life, Liberty and the
pursuit of Happiness That to secure
these rights, governments are institut
cd among men, deriving their Just
powers from the consent Of the govern
ed. That is the whole principle in u
few words, upon which our government
is founded. That is, that the govern
ment shall be run only by men Sho
obtain their power from the people
who are being governed. We do that
by electing our president, our senators,
our representatives in congress and all
our local officers of local government,
such as the mayor of our city and so
on. No small group of men can select
n certain man and say, He will be your
president or king and You must obey. ,
Nor can any group Of men decide what
we shall and shall not do. 1t 10 that
principle Of justice and liberty, liberty
in the true sense Of the word, liberty