The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1932-06-10
BY ELMO SCOTT WATSON

4 June Ii Is rag Jay anu on JldI udy
| patriotic Americans will pay tribute
| a. TO the emblem which "SymbOliZes the
LAEH freedom, equality, justice and human
AWE ity for which our forefathers Sacri-
- feed their lives and personal for
tunes" and which represents a ma
ton Of over 100000O00 free people, its Con-
stitutiOn and Institutions its achievements, and
aspirations" Everywhere-over homes, busi-
ness offices and public buildngs-the Red, White
and Blue will be displayed in celebration Of
the anniversary of the day when the Continental
congress in session in Philadelphia Resolved,
That the Flag of the thirteen United States be
thirteen stripes alternate red and white; that
the Union be thirteen stars, white in a blue
field, representing new constellation
There are several places in the United States
which have become flag shrines" because of
their association with the history of our flag
and there could be no more appropriate celebra-
ton Of Flag day than a visit to one Of these
shrines that day.
One of them is the little house at $50 Arch
street in Philadelphia, where once lived Eliza
beth GriscOm Ross, famous in American legend
as Betsy Ross" who, even though she may net
have been, as the legend has it, "the maker Of
the first American flag" was certainly of
the early ones. Another is the reconstructed
Fort McHenry in Maryland where was displayed
the flag which provided the inspiration for
Francis Scott Keys Star Spangled Banner
Still another is the case in the National mu-
scum in Washington where is displayed the very
flag which Key saw "by the dawn's early
light It was this flag which gave him the in
SEPARATION for the immortal poem that has be-
come our national anthem-'The Star-Spangled
Banner" Then, too, there is the monument
in Old City cemetery in Nashville, Tenn. which
marks the last resting place of Capt. William
Driver the New England sea captain who first
called the flag "Old Glory"
Interesting as all of these are because of
their individual parts in the history of our
national emblem, there is no place perhaps,
where much flag history can be found in one
place as in the museum at the United States
Military academy at West Point. In its cases
are displayed colors which not only cover more
than a century of American history but which,
as individual flags played their part in stirring
events in all of our wars from the Revolution
TO the Spanish-American
One group of flags which has special appeal
during. this, the Washington bicentennial year,
is composed of British and Hessian colors which
were once the property of Gen. George Wash
ington, having probably been surrendered at York
town in 1TS1 with the command Of Lord Corn
wallis These flags were bequeathed to George
Washington Parke Gusts, son of Washingtons
adopted son and grandson of Martha Washington.
Gusts bequeathed them TO the War department,
who received them in 1858 whereupon Secre-
tary Floyd sent them to West Point.
Meager as are the records for these flags. the
labels on them suggest innumerable thrilling
stories of the days when Washington and his
Continentals were fighting what so often seemed
TO be a hopeless fight for American liberties.
Here is one described as British kings colors
or regimental Union Jack of the Seventh Royal
Fuslers. Probably captured at Fort .Chamby,
October is, 1715. and therefore the first Brit
fish flag captured in the Revolution" What men,
ories of the brilliant exploits of Mad Anthony
Wayne or of the stubborn fighting in the redoubts
at Yorktown called up by the label on this
one near by: British kings colors or Union
Jack. Queen Anne pattern, 1707. History not
known, but this may be the flag of the Seven
teenth regiment, lost at Stony Point, or the
Forty-third, Seventy-sixth or Eightieth regi-
ments lost at Yorktown
There are half dozen more flags described
as "Ansbach-Bayreuth,G German mercenaries col
ors. bearing the date of ITO, captured at York