The border vidette., 1931-06-13
our FLAG IS l54 YEARS OLpl

we'll as the past. The patriotic
citizen will be reminded that
June IA. 1881, marks the 154th
anniversary of the day when the
Continental Congress passed the
resolution officially establishing,
as the emblem of the United
|States,a a flag, of thirteen stripes
alternate red and white," and
that the union be l3 stars white
in a field representing new con
stellation"
But every patriot will also look
forward to next year, when Flag
Day will take on a still deeper
meaning as one Of the key days
ia the ten mouths nation wide
celebration of the Two Hundred
ty Anniversary of the Birth Of
George Washington. According
to the plans of the United States
George Washington Bicenten
MEL Commission, every Ameri
can, in every state and city Of
the country, will then be en-
couraged to honor the flag with
appropriate ceremonies and with
a new devotion, Iiuked as it is
with the life and labors Of
! George Washington.
Historians may regard as un
supported by the fact the story
of Betsy Ross stitching the first
American Flag, but no one dis
putes the fact that the legend
has become part and parcel
of American folklore. In any
case it is known that Washing
ton bad an intense personal 10
terest in the creation a nationa,
flag, and may have had part in
it's design. And 20 one disputes
the fact that be accomplished
more than any other American
in giving that flag a meaning
and in unfurling it over a strong
and united nation. 10 1882 it
will be the country's privilege
to render new honors to George
I Washington memory, aud new
loyalty to- this immortal symbol
of his greatness.
4 Meanwhile. this year,it is we'll
to recall some of the great dates
10 the flags history. It's first
display by the Continental Army
was on August 3, 1777, at Fort
Stanwiy. the present city Of
Rome, N. Y, during an attack
by the British. It was carried
toto battle by George Washing
tons troops at Brandy wine on
September II, 1777. 1t was first
salutsd by the British at the
surrender of Bureoyne at Sara
toRa on October II, 1777.
For the Navy. John Paul Jones
took the first salute to the Stars
and Stripes on February IA, 1878.
whe n he sailed his ship Ranger"
into the harbor of Quiberon,
F,aoce 10 the same ship be
forced the first striking of colors
to our flag by the British ship
Drake" on April "a, 1878. The
ship "Bedfotd," of Massachu.
setts carried the first American
flag into British port on Feb.
3, 1888. 1t was first carried
round the world by the ship
"Colum bia," from Boston in
September, 1887. Captain John
GreeLe, in the Empress of
Coina," bad previously taken it
TO China in 1884.
It was first flown in battle in
the Pacific by the U. S. Frigate
ESSEX" in 1918. The next year
Francis Scott Key wrote the Star
Spangled Banner. 10 1918 Con.
gress -decreed that henceforth a
new star should be added on the
admission Of each new State in
the Union; out, before that, on
January l3, 1894, after Vermont
and Kentucky had been admitted
to the Union, the stars and
stripes were increased to fifteen.
The 1913 Act reduced the stripes
to thirteen and decreeded a new
star for each new State, which
made jump at once to twenty
stars.
On April 6. 1909, Admiral
Peary planted the first American
nag at the North Pole. Within
the last decade. Admiral Byrd
has carried it to both the poles
Wherever it has gone it has
| meant achievement and new
| honors to our nation. But mex,
. year Old Glory will float over
the achievements of the creates,
American of all, the man who
made both the flag and the nation
that flies it-George Washington