The Semi-weekly Madison County Democrat. (London, Ohio) 1923-19??, 1932-06-14

PaidaS Will lLle lNatloildi rag anu tI
With Flag Day being observed to-
day, June II, we Americans may we'll
be proud of our flag.
1t is the most beautiful Of all the
national colors, and has pointed the
way to freedom for countless thou
sands. 1t stands for patriotism, 10y
atty and fidelity to the ideals of
America. For 155 years it has been
waving in the breeze, the most-beloved
symbol of our country.
Woodrow Wilson said "This flag,
which we honor and under which we
serve, is the emblem Of our unity, our
power, our thought and purpose as
nation. 1t has no other character
than that which we give it from gen
GRAFTON to generation.
"The choices are ours. 1t floats in
majestic silence above the hosts that
IeXeeute those choices, whether in peace
or in war; And yet, though silent, it
speaks to us-speaks to US of the
past, Of the men and women who went
before JUS, and of the records they
wrote upon it."
] On June IA, 1777, the Continental
/ Congress decided ''that the flag of the
thirteen United States be thirteen
stripess alternate red and white; that
the union be thirteen stars, white in a
blue field, representing a new constel-
lation.' In the intervening years it
has remained unchanged, save only
for an occasional variation in the num-
ber of stripes and the addition Of
star for each new state.
The story of the flag is the story of
the nation. 1t has kept pace with the
march Of events that followed the
Revolution, and has braved the battle
and the breeze during more than a
century and half Of national growth /
Its influence has gradually extended
around the globe, and in our gener-
alton the sun never sets on the Stars
and Stripes. Every minute Of the
twenty-four hours, somewhere OH our
planet the folds of Old Glory are fly
ing in the breeze.
1t is the custom of the L. S. Marines
to raise the flag every morning at
eight o'clock. 1t remains flying until
Three hours after the U. S. Marines
at New York, Boston, Norfolk and
other East Coast naval stations have
raised the flag, the Marines at posts
along the Pacific seaboard present
arms to the colors as they are hauled
to the top of the flagstaff
the time interval varying only when
daylight saving time is in vogue.
About two and half hours later
the ceremony is repeated in the
Hawaiian Islands. More than five
hours have rolled around before the
flag is raised by the Soldiers of the
Sea in the far-oH Philippines, and at
virtually the same hour in Shanghai,
China, the Marines of the Fourth Reg
iment hoist the flag above their regi-
mental headquarters.
Several hours later the westward
march Of daylight catches the flutter-
ing folds of the Stars and Stripes fly
ing over American Consulates in the
Near East or in Europe, and when the
sun has passed its zenith in the Old
World, the flag is again flung to the
breeze on the Atlantic seaboard.
Thus the Stars and Stripes makes
its appearance in the early morning in
all parts of the globe and remains fly
ing until the sun disappears over the
horizon.
Our flag has never been a symbol of
military aggression. At home or
abroad, afloat on the seven seas, or in
some far distant outpost, it is Amer
iea's guarantee Of justice to those who \
seek protection under its folds.