The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1931-06-12

~) Stars ana stripes very soon
after the first flag was made
In accordance with the resolution
passed by the Continental congress on
June IA, 1777, ''That the flag of the
United States be Is stripes, alternate
red and white; that the union be
13 stars, white in blue field. repre-
senting a new constellation"
The name "The Star-Spangled Ban
ner" dates from 1914 when Francis
Scott Key, watching the British bom-
bardment of Fort McHenry, was in
spired to write the poem which was
later set to music and became the Of
fetal national anthem. But the name
"Old Glory" is more recent one. 1t
was just a hundred years ago that
Yankee skipper had the inspiration
which resulted in that affectionate
name being bestowed upon our nation
al colOrs. Here is the story of how
"Old Glory" got that name:
From the beginning of New Eng
land maritime history the Driver fam
| lily of Salem, Mass, had been leaders
in the shipping trade, not only as ship
| builders but as owners, captains and
sailors Of their own vessels. In the
year 1881 Capt. William Driver was
carrying on the family tradition. AS
a boy Of twelve he had shipped on
sailing vessel for Europe and before
| he was twenty he was master of the
brig, Charles Baggett, one of nat in
Vulnerable fleet which ssEG the
Seven Seas and carried the neme of
Salem to every corner Of the earth.
In September of that year Captain
Driver was preparing to sail for a
| trip around the world. Just before
| leaving a party of his friends gath
cred to present him with a farewell
| gift, an American flag, because he
was noted for his love for the ma
| tional colors and what they betokened.
| Captain Driver was on deck to re-
ceive them and sailor, carrying the
flag, folded in triangular form, stepped
forward and began a carefully mem
orized speech.
'In ancient times, when an ocean
voyage was looked upon with super
| stitious dread" he said, ut was the
| custom on the eve of departure to
angle. When ready the priest stepped
| forward and taking the banner in
hand sprinkled it with consecrated
water and dedicated it to God the
| Father, God the son and God the Holy
host turning the point of the triangle
upward at the name of each, thus
calling on that unity of Creator, Re
| deemer and Sanctifier to bless the ma
| tional emblem and prosper the voy-
| ayers and their friends. The flag
| thus consecrated was then hoisted to
| the masthead"
He then adjusted the flag to the
halyards and hoisted it to its posi-
ton at the masthead. Captain Driv-
er, overcome with emotion, was silent
for a moment Then as he looked aloft
| well floating in the breeze he ex-
claimed: 'Tll call her Old Glory, boys;
| Old Glory!" And thus was the Amer
| lean flag christened with new uame
| for he was the first to use that name
and by no other did he ever refer t. it.
The voyage which was thus so APP
propriately inaugurated carried the
| original "Old Glory" into many har-
bors throughout the world and into
even more during the next six years
while Captain Driver sailed the seas.
During one of his voyages into the
Orient he had made camphorwood
sea chest, brass-bound and decorated
with nailheads, in which he placed
the original "Old Glory" when it was
not floating at the masthead Of his
| ship And this flag had an even more