Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-06-14

BY J. W., TALLEY.
" VERY day is Flag day in the
l. United states Navy. the service
ceremony to the Star Spangled
IL Banner" being a deep-rooted
tradition dating back to July 4,
1777, when a group of Portsmouth. N.
H., women presented Capt. John Paul
Jones with the first banner on board
his ship-the Ranger.
While the Army holds daily services
to the flag, this branch does not go to
the extreme, as tradition requires OF
naval men. In the Navy ceremonies
are held twice daily, at 8:15 O'Clock in
the morning and at shutdown. The
national anthem is played as the nag
slowly Is raised or lowered. At naval
training stations recruits are required
to sing 1.-THE Star Spangled Banner
each morning as the flag is raised, and
during the entire training period the
discipline is extremely rigid in respect
to the flag
No officer or enlisted man arrives or
departs from a ship without first turn
ing and saluting the flag; he stands at
attention while the flag is being lowered
or raised; he mans the rail" as the
bands play when two of our .battleships
or cruisers pass at sea. end he takes a
ceremonies when foreign man-of-war
passes his own ship and the colors are
given gracious dip while the national
anthem of each nation is played.
Women Made First Flag.
When the Colonial Congress on June
IA, 154 years ago, passed that memo
rable resolution fixing forever the col
ors and form of the American flag, they
a. m ho rocnl,1tfOTN fhnun xxrnrfic
Resolved, That Capt. John Paul Jones
be appointed to command the ship
Ranger" But the Congress little
dreamed that John Paul Jones and his
first ship, the Ranger. would play such
an important part in the history of our
flag.
The 10-gun slcop of war Ranger, at
the time the flag resolution was passed
in June, 1777, was nearing completion
at the Portsmouth, N. H. Navy Yard.
which is probably the country's Oldest
navy yard
In decided contrast to the old navy
yard, the Portsmouth yard is now a
specialized plant for the assembling of
submarines, whose engines come from
one place, the armor plate from an
other and the storage batteries from
still another; and then, after launching
the submarine goes to the Newport Tor
pedo Station for her offensive equip
ment. But when the Ranger was built
there were no specialties All the ships
equipment was made at the same yard.
even including her cooking utensils and
her flags.
Immediately following this act Of
Congress, the young ladies OF Ports
mouth set to work to provide an Amer
lean flag for the Ranger. They made
it with their own hands, using their silk
dresses for material. One CT these pa
triotic girls even gave the gown in
which she had been married only a
month before.
Ranger Sailed to Brest.
The flag was presented to John Paul
Jones on July 4. 1777. and the LIST Of
the following November the Ranger,
with the proud banner at her mast
head, sailed for France carrying the
news of Burgoyne's surrender. She ar
rived at Brest on the LIST Of December,
1777, and John Paul Jones at once be-
gan to make arrangements for French
recognition and the salute that was to
follow.
In the Navy salutes are given IN
MANY ways. The individual arm salute
which enlisted men accord to commits
stoned officers, and which the officers IN
turn give their superiors, has promi-
nent place amcng salutes, and when
given in the usual snappy manner LENDS
dignity to any occasion. The salutc TO
men in n small boat by laying on their
oars or tossing them also is bound to