Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-11
keeping FZ4gs in Storage

in State capitol or museum. North Carolina
placed hers in the Hall of History at Raleigh,
secured in cases made Of native woods and so
arranged that both regiment numbers and in
scriptions could be plainly seen. It was q
South Carolina newspaper which declared at
this time, Since the war with Spain, there
has been no question anywhere of the South,s
devotion to the Stars and Stripes, though the
Stars ana Bars will here be ever dear"
After the World War, when grandSons Of
the Blue and the Gray had all worn the khaki,
the spirit of restitution became even more pro-
nounced, and many captured banners which
had been in the possession Of individuals or
q. A. r. posts, were returned to their original
owners in the South. Even the State flag of
Virginia, which had been pulled down from
the dome of the State Capitol when Richmond
was occupied by the Federal troops In 1885,
was returned in 1927 by the grandson Of the
cavalry officer who had carried it to Massachu-
sets.
So it would seem that trophy flags have
gradually found Ravens which seemed right
and proper to the people Of this country. No
more legislation on their behalf is necessary:
but what about a sanctuary for those flags of
historic interest which are not memorials Of
conflict? The United States nag which was
unfurled at Sitka, Alaska, when that territory
was taken over from Russia in 1867 found its
way back to Washington and remained for
many years in q tin container In the basement
of the State Department 1t afterward gradu-
ated to an upper shelf and brown paper
wrapping.
A RE not such flags as this worthy the same
attention from Congress as that which
formerly directed the care and preservation Of
military trophies? And as suitable build
ing near the center Of Washington" was once
described as a proper place for the display of
flags Of war, what better location than this
national center of education and patriotism
could be found for an exhibition hall in which
to gather all flags of current usage whose
acquaintance is desirable?
There is now in Washington the nucleus
for such an exhibit. made up mainly from
flags shut away from view the most Of the
year. Many of these have been mentioned
the Navy Department story of the growth OF
our national flag; the flags Of the Mayfower
to illustrate many phases of national and In
ternational usage; the War Department ex-
amples of flags in use by the Regular Army.
the National Guard and the Organized Re-
serves The War Department collection In
cludes also wonderful showing Of designs for
regimental insignia, and lessons in history are
never more Interestingly told than by these
heraldic interpretations.
If to these could be added the excelently
classified collection of the National Museum
and the State flags of the Post ONCE Depart
ment, general contribution Of exhibits from
other Government departments ought to make
up a surprising historical group of flags. as
well as to fill in the list of those assigned to
the President of the United States and other
officials of the Government.
Such a display, housed under one roof.
would not only be invaluable as q source OF
information, but would constitute great lesson
in patriotism to the thousands of American
citizens who make the pilgrimage to Washing
ton every year.