The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1931-04-30
Junior High School
The History of Flags


The Seventh and Eighth grades
Of the Sank Centre Public School
were very fortunate in having Mrs.
Besser, a member of the D. A. r.,
give them a lecture on flags from
the first flag to be seen on Ameri-
can soil to our present one.
The word flag" comes from the
Anglo-Saxon word "fieoga" mean
ing to float or fly in the wind.
The usual flag is an oblong piece
of silk or cotton attached to a
staff bearing devices of special
meaning.
Banners used by the Ancients
were religiously guarded. Today
this same holds reverence for the
flag characterizes all people.
Written into the history Of
"Old Glory are suffering, distress.
liberty, and victory.
John Cabot, Italian navigator,
first planted the discovery Flag"
beautiful banner of St. Georges
Cross, red cross on white field,
on American soil June "a, 1497, in
the name of King George, of Eng
land.
When Scotland was added to the
Empire the red cross of st. George
was placed over the diagonal white
cross of st. Andrew, on field of
blue, this flag, adopted in 1906 was
commonly called Kings Colors"
or Union Jack"
In 1901 when Ireland was added
to the Empire the flag became the
British flag of today, the red cross
of England on white field, the
Scotch diagonal cross of white on
blue field and last the diagonal
red cross of Ireland.
In 1907 the use of the Kings Col
ors was discontinued by Cromwell.
The flag was changed from blue
to crimson and the two crosses
placed on a field of blue.
The Cromwell flag inspired the
Pilgrims or Separatists to come to
America in 1920.
In New England the Pine Tree
Flag, pine tree was put in place
of the crosses on a white field, was
used.
The Massachusetts, Colony Flag,
pine tree on a plain white field,
was used when the Colonists opened
fire on the British, Oct. IT'S.
John Manley captured the British
ship. Nancy, in IT'S. The Nancy
was the first ship to surrender to
the American flag.
We are indebted to King James
for the name Union Jack" Union
is applied to the part of the flag
with the stars on it signifying the
union of the colonies.
Previous to Revolutionary days
the serpent was commonly used as
flag symbol. John Paul Jones
did not approve of the snake flags
but Benjamin Franklin said the
serpent was a sign of wisdom.
The Grand Union flag was the
first striped flag carried in Amer
lea.
In June, ITS Congress said that
the flag of the United States should
have 13 stripes, alternate red and
white with Is white stars on a blue
field.
In 1776 Washington called on
Betsy Ross to make a flag. She
said the sixpointed star was in
correct and with a snip of her scis-
sors displayed a five pointed star.
This star was adopted in place of
the sixpointed one. :
Flags were made from blue coats.
white shirts, and red petticoats.
John Paul Jones was sent to
France to bear the news of Bur
goyne's surrender. Arriving in
French waters the flag was given
the salute.
1t was a habit to add star and
a stripe to the flag for each new
state added to the Union but it
was found by adding a stripe for
each new state the flag would soon
become too large so only star was
added and the Is stripes were left
to represent the 13 original colonies.
Franklin e. Kane says of the flag,
MY Stars and my Stripes are your
dreams and labors. They are
bright with cheer, brilliant with
courage, and firm with faith, be-
cause you have made them out of
your hearts, for you are the makers
of the flag and it is well that you
glory in the making"
The set of IL flags was present.
ed to the Junior High School His
tory Department by the D. A. r.
In behalf of the students I wish to