The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-06-14
Stars And Stripes Forever

The earliest records of civilization show that
peoples and armies had their flags to rally
around. Egyptian armies raised emblems or
standards. It might bear the crude likeness
Of cow, which seems foolish now, but some
of our first flags bore a rattlesnake. And
Marius in the second Roman consulship de-
creed all flags should display the eagle, which
earlier had decorated the emblems of the
Persians. The Greeks used armor on spear,
the Assyrians and Jews various devices, and
before Marius the Romans used figures OF
animals with the wolf predominating
Through all the ages flags have had con-
spicuous part in the lives and wars of ma
tons. The first of record in the British colo
MES in America was square of white bunt-
ing displaying the flaming Cross of St. George
The first bearing stars was raised in Its on
the armored schooner Lee. Thirteen five
pointed stars appeared in a blue canton.
In October of the same year a committee
of which Benz amin Franklin was chairman de-
signed new flag which was to be used in
all colonies. It had thirteen red and white
stripes with the crosses of St. George and
St. Andrew. AS yet the colonies were fighting
against taxation without representation. The
separation from England had not then been
sealed with the Declaration of Independence.
St. George and St. Andrew were still in vogue.
It was not until June IA, 1777, that the flag
bearing thirteen white stars on blue field
was adopted by the Continental Congress. John
Paul Jones raised the Stars and Stripes on
the Ranger in the summer of 1777 for the
first time on an American naval vessel. The
Stars and Stripes was carried into battle for
the first time at Bennington on August 16.
1777. AS states were added to the Union new
stars appeared on the blue field until as
every school child knows, it now contains
forty-eight
So much FOR the history of the nations
flag, emitting only the Betsy Ross tradition.
What of it's record? Until the japanese tore
it down in the Philippines it had never been
defiled in war. That act will be avenged. as
S : as there's God in heaven. 1t may take
some time. The Japanese are still strong
Their power is far flung, their military
strength great But Tokyo will fall and with
it all that Japanese aggression and conquest
have accomplished.
The Stars and Stripes are aloft in hundred
battle zones. Beneath its spreading colors by
land and sea American armed forces are
battling the forces of evil valiantly and sue
cessfully. There is no reason to think that
wherever it waves in battle will men in uni
form fail to guard it well or carry it to new
and greater glory.
Can we say as much for ourselves at homer
As we display the flag today, do we give it
the true allegiance it deserves, in our private
and business engagements? Is it the symbol
of our integrity, our determination to free the
world of intolerance and ourselves of greed7
Or are we, perhaps, giving it lip service and
withholding moral and spiritual support? These
are matters we ought in all seriousness to
consider today Flag Day can mean much az
little, even nothing, according to the thought
we devote to its true meaning.