The Maui news. [volume] (Wailuku, Maui, H.I.) 1900-current, 1922-06-13
THE NATIONS FLAG.

Tomorrow is the birthday anniversary of the American Flag,
the Star Spangled Banner, the Star and Stripes, Old Glory, as it is
variouSy aAectionatey called. 1t was officially adopted by the baby
nation that was struggling for independence 147 years ago, on June
Il, 1777.
In the early days of the American Revolution various banners
had been used, the various detachments of the army, perhaps car
rying each their own. There was the British Union Jack with 10
stripes added, the Liberty Flag, the Join or Die and the
cohed serpent, Don't Tread on Me-, but the handiwork of Betsy
Ross, the Quaker seamstress, laboriously pieced and sewed together
in her home in Arch street, Philadelphia, was the final selection.
From such selection the only change that has been made has been
in the adding of stars to the galaxy in the blue field with the add
ton Of new states to the Union and in the grouping of such stars.
The American Flag of today is thus the oldest of national emblems
though the nation itself is young compared to many others.
Originally the Stars and Stripes was designed to show the indie
pendence of 10 former colonies and the uniting of the 10 into one
federation of states. The scparateness indicated by the 10 stripes
and the unity by the grouping into one field of the 10 stars.
\ national flag is but a symbol of the nation and may mean
much or little. To one person it means one thing, to others it signi-
fes other things. AS one views his country so he typfies it in the
meaning which he sees in the FLAG. According as his country means
much or little to him varies the sentiments which he attaches to its
banner and thus 1t IS that today the Red, White and Blue means to
most Americans much more than a mere union of Independent states
for governmental purposes.
To one it means faith, justice and truth; to another strength,
right and liberty. Some conceive it as a pledge Of liberty, some an
emblem of protection. To others it is a symbol of might, of power.
and to still others of wealth and strength. The more clearly one
can visualize the qualities he most admires in his country, the
more the banner means to him. There are those who see in it the
struggles of the patriots for liberty, the later struggles for unity
tice and for the right Of determination by the government. To all
there attaches as much reverence for the flag as there is inherent
patriotism.
In these later days the American Flag has taken on particular
significance to the peoples of other nations and other countries. To
the furnishing it means plenty and a sharing with the destitute, to
the struggling 1t means moral support in time Of need. To the al
most vanquished allies in the World War it spelled hope and new
vigor, to the delegates to the conference for the limitation of arma-
mentS it took on the significance of peace.
Children in the public schools are taught to honor the flag no
matter Of what nationality or race or creed their parentage may
have been but if they shall be told at least once in the year some
thing of the history of the flag, of its fashiOnng by the peaceful
Quaker woman, its adoption by congress how it came to be, the
struggles that have attached to keeping it ever waving proudly
aloft, glorious in the breeze, of the meanings and signifcances that
admiration and respect for it than would otherwise be.