( ten a n ts
DE DICA TIO N O RIGI N AN D D E( ELO PMENT AMERI CAN FLAG
Pi n e Tr ee Sh i ll i n g
, N ew En gland Colors
M erc h ant Flag of th e Colo n i e s
Flag W ith Sph ere
Th e Tau nto n Flag
B edford Militi a
N ew York M erc h ant Flag
W h ite Plai n s Mi liti a
Cav alry Fl ag o f W h ite Pl ai n s
M a rko e B a n n e r
’ Flag of Morga n s Rifl e Corp s
R h o d e I sla n d
Culp e p er Flag
S o uth Caroli n a Palm etto
’ ol oultri e s la C . M F g
S erpe nt Flag
N ew E ngl an d Pi n e Tree
L ib e rty Tre e Flag
Flag of th e Co nti n e ntal N avy
Th e Rattl e s n ake Fla g [ 8 ]
N ew En gl an d Fl ag
Pi n e Tree N av al Flag
Ca m b ridge Fl ag
B a n n er of th e W a sh i n gto n L ife Gu ard s
( First Am eri c a n Flag
l a e n t b D A . R . F g S y .
Flag of S eve nth Re gim e nt
First Flag of Am e ric a n Exp an s io n
Fl ag o f th e Ch e s ap e ak e
la o arc 2 4 th 18 18 F g f M h ,
Th e Rev e n u e Flag
S ew i n g the Forty - sixth Star o n th e Flag
Th e Cub a n Flag
Pe ac e Flag
Pre s e ntati o n of H olla nd Pe a c e Flag
Flag of Eutaw Spri ngs
Co nti n e ntal Me m ori al H all
firbirattuu
In the completed work brought to- day to ou r Presi
- M Lean l Mrs. c dent Genera , Donald , I wish to acknow
m t ledge first y debt to her splendid pa riotism , to which ,
whatsoever there is of merit in the subject , is due , while I
e o have received encouragem nt from President R osevelt ,
e Rear Admiral Sigsbee, Captain H obson , Col . Philip R ad ,
rd . 23 . . 8 . U S Infantry ; Dr Roberts Freedman , and many
- McL ean others, without Mrs . as an incentive the work
would not have been accomplished .
It has been peculiarly interesting to me from my strong an d ardent belief that the History of the Flag must appeal to the masses and bring the reverence which is its due as a result .
If the mind can vividly recall the stories of self- sacri
fiee on the part of men , women and children , loyalty to
cl this early bought treasure must result , if loyalty is given ,
an d honor will follow, as a result the flag will only be
e —w pres nted where honor is due , for remember hile it is
o true , there are members of the Nati nal Society of the
D e the S aught rs of American Revolution , in every tate of [ 1 2 ]
— s of the Union the fact remain , only the descendants
those forming the thirteen original States , are eligible to
u e membership in the Society . Be tr to your inheritance,
be loyal , be honest , to all that is good and true, if you are
ou loyal y must be honest, dishonor and loyalty, or dis
o loyalty and honor are not possible, as we l ok at the blue of the heavens above and see the thousands of bright eyes
e watching, waiting, to r ceive the new lives which are enter ing the “ Land of the Leal ” may each and every one of us a descendant of a man or w oman who aided in forming that mystic circle of thirteen look straight back into those
“ eyes, and say I have given my best service to the flag and
” country which gave me birth .
- In . o McLean Mrs D nald , President General of the
c has So iety, who given her best to the flag and her coun
try, we have a standard bearer , world renowned for her
eloquence . All honor is her due and the highest honor,
a of the guardi nship the flag, is hers . To her it is brought
- to day by a worthy messenger, called from the clouds, to carry it to the prototype of all that was noble and true in
our great General , George Washington, on the day sacred
to his memory. QBrigtn arm Zachelupmcn t of the g mcrttan f lag
A B I RTH OF THE FL G .
“ When Freedom from her mountain height n Unfurled her sta dard to the air,
She tore the azure robe of night ,
And set the stars of glory there .
She mingled with its gorgeous dyes ,
The milky baldric of the skies ,
And striped its pure celestial white, r With streakings of the mo ning light .
BETSY ROSS SH OWING TH E FLAG .
“ ’ the Flag of free heart s only home ,
By angel hands to valor given , Thy stars have lit the w clkin dome
And all thy hues were born in heaven . — Drake .
e o Our Heav n born flag , inspired by eternal h pe,
“ ” loyal to our motto Right makes might , on some star [ I 4 ]
the lit night , gazing on the eternal blue and through it to
to morning to come, General George Washing n , who is
i ou r w of given credit of the des gn for first flag, saw the da n
freedom , then turned to a woman , who reverently made
“ ” n and placed in the hands of men our Ensig of Liberty .
The need of the hour and time inspired each change , mak
ow o - ing in its gr th a thing of beauty , T day , as then , a
f el masterpiece, teaching us unsel ishness, devotion to the w
of fi fare others , lofty ideals and sacri ce of self, if need be .
EAGLE WITH FLAG .
Its gu ardian ; the Washington Eagle has been the
178 emblem of the United States since 5 . It was so named
r as by Audubon , the natu alist , because Washington was
e brav as an eagle and , like it , the terror of his enemies .
Oh ( That Eagle of Freedom ( Age dims not his eye ;
’ has a He seen E rth s mortality spring, bloom and die ;
has a He seen the strong n tions rise , flourish and fall ;
’ c ’ He mo ks at Time s changes, he triumphs o er all ;
’ o ers read He has seen our own land with wild forests p ,
s e He ees it with joy and sunshin on its head . [ 1 5 1
e And his presence will bless, this his own chosen clim , ’ Til ’ fl ” the Archangel s at is set up on time .
Unknown .
MAYFLOWER UN DER SAIL WITH PENNANT
i e d That th s story may be rightly und rstoo , in mem — ory go back to the shores of Massachusetts looking sea
a ward there is the Mayflower, her pennant flying as she p
roaches 9th 1620 p her haven of rest , November , , after a
r boi sterous voyage of 63 days . From the Harbo of Cape
s o Cod , the shallop was ent out to find a more h spitable
of . place landing After many hardships , on Monday, the
2 1st e r of December, the exploring party of the for fathe s lan ded at Plymouth .
LANDING OF TH E PILGRIMS .
History states the landing was made under the p ro
’ ” tection of — e the King s colors, that prot ction, which in
e o a few years b came the yoke of b ndage . The colors of
James First were those under which Jamestown was 1 settled in 60 7. [ I 6 ]
MEMORIAL OF TH E LANDING OF TH E PILGRIMS .
( Stained Glass Window) .
The site of this landing place of the first English speaking settlement to REALLY colonize this country is
o o marked with a memorial . From this time new c l nies
of 1643 e N ew were heard , and in the Confed ration of
16 2 England Colonies formed . In 5 Jamestown surrend
o h T ered to the C mmissioners of the Commonwealt . his same year a mint was established and the “ Pine Tree was
e s s first h ard of as the emblem of Mas achu etts .
PI NE TREE SH ILLIN G .
“ The Pine Tree Shilling is best known, though other
The coins were used . mint continued in operation until
1684.
NEW ENGLAND COLORS .
“ In 1686 New England Colors are mentioned ; they
” were used under Sir Edmund Andros ; the field w as White f o . with the Cross St George , a Crown in the center of the
“
o . R. . Cr ss, with J , Jacobus Rex [ I 7 ]
MERCHANT FLAG OF TH E COLONIES
The Mercha nt Flag of the Colonies ( 1 709) showed a
n . blue grou d with Cros s of St . George and St . Andrew One peculiarity noticed is a shield in the centre of the crosses .
Special devices and design s III the form of banners
e were often in evid nce, but the first distinctive flag was Th e . e w as the flag with a sph re in the union field red , the union the flag of 1686—with a sphere in the upper corner
staff next the .
FLAGWITH SPH ERE
1 7 It was used as early as 3 5 . While the colonists
n a s— were gathering u der stand rds , restlessnes the outcome — i d of oppression was increas ng, and finally resulte in the
n of r 2 bur ing a B itish armed schooner in 1 77 .
BURNIN G OF TH E GASPEE .
She was called the Gaspee, and appeared in Narra
an sett g Bay in March , her duty being to prevent infraction [ 1 8 ]
w a i n of revenue la s . She interfered with the free n vigat o
of the bay , and the exasperated people , hearing the Gaspee
N an u itm on was aground on q (afterwards Gaspee Point) ,
9th 1 772 n on the of June , , under the general comma d of
e f Captain Whippl , a ter a skirmish , set fire to her, and at dawn she blew up .
TH E TAUNTON FLAG .
1 774 t In Massachuset s began the struggle for liberty,
“ and a flag was used known as the Taunton Liberty
” “ Flag . It had a red field with the words Liberty and
1 0 9 Union . The union was the flag of 7 .
19th 1 775 To Lexington (April , ) is an easy transiti on if one recalls the various methods in w hich the difieren t colonies expressed openly by symbol and in speech the
o w in desire to rule their n dest ies .
BEDFORD MI LITIA ( Concord Flag) .
fla — i So we follow the Concord g wh te ground , show ing arm with hand holding dagger—carried by the Bedford
ri e militia across the b dge , and rem mber on that day, April [ I 9 ]
1 75 f 1 9th , 7 , the li e of the first British soldier (sent by the mother coun try to oppress a people claiming freedom as
a a right) was s crificed , and the first step towards the
“ ” union which gave birth to ou r flag was taken .
E o MIN UTE M N (Lexingt n) .
As these “ farmer soldiers followed their flag that day the British drum and fife cheered them on with Yan ” th . 1 3 kee Doodle The New York Journal , October ,
1 768 it , speaks of as a British air , which was often played
iu st ou tside the church doors in Boston . After Lexington
n as the tune was adopted by the America s their own . It
o had been the prelude . It became als the postlude of the
Revolution and fulfilled the claim to the translation from
“ ” “ ” th e lan kle o e e Gr ek, d ule let the nslaved rejoice .
This on e of many claims of origin made by the Greek
a scholar Athen eus, seems the most appropriate
of Before proceeding with the history the flag, it may be interesting to note some of the different standards or
d e flags a opted by the colonies or stat s, and carried by the regiments or on vessels before a National Flag was estab i l shed . N EW YORK MERCHANT FLAG . The ships sailing from New York in 1 775 and 1 776
r displayed a flag, a beaver, the seal of New Nethe lands,
W on a hite field .
WH ITE PLAINS MILITIA . e N w . The White Plains Militia, York , carried a flag
The red and white stripes were part of the New Nether
. 1686 lands flag The union , the English flag of .
O F CAVALRY FLAG WH ITE PLAINS . The flag of the White Plains Cavalry bore the usual
“ ” “ e . o e motto, Lib rty or Death The Liberty Cap , ad pt d
from the British , was blue with a white border or bottom .
a It originated with the Romans, who placed it on the he ds
of slaves to show they were freed .
COURT HOUSE AT WHITE PLAINS .
- In front of the Court House, at White Plains, New
e York, was read the Declaration of Indep ndence , July 9,
1 776 e N ew , which mad York a State. It is called the
” N ew Birthplace of York State . The Court House was afterward destroyed by fire , but the site may soon be suitably marked with some of
the original stone .
B MARKO BAN NER ( Penn ) .
“ ” Markoe as The Banner, it is called , was used by
c o . Captain Marko , of the Philadelphia Light Horse Tro p
It had a canton of thirteen stripes red and white , white
” field with device and This We Strive . This
Light Horse Troo p adopted the Liberty Cap in 1 775 .
They served as an escort to General Washington from
1 77 Philadelphia to New York in 5 .
’ FLAG OF MORGAN S RIFLE CORPS ( N ew Jersey) . k W hen the War of the Revolution bro e out , Daniel
r e Mo gan , a native of New Jersey, joined the army und r
Washington at Cambridge and commanded a corps of riflem en , which adopted a flag, with name of corps and
e regim nt . H e accompanied Arnold to Q uebec and was
a made a prisoner there . After his exchange he was p pointed to the command of the Eleventh Virginia Regi
ment , in which was incorporated his rifle corps . RHODE ISLAND ( Hope Flag) . Rhode I sland was the only colony to really distin
guish itself by designing an original flag . It was called
“ ” the H ope Flag and first introduced the stars, thirteen
in a blue union, white field with blue anchor .
A CULPEPER FL G (Virginia) .
e t o Patrick H enry, appoint d by the Virginia Conven i n ,
1 8th 1 775 July , , summoned corps of volunteers from
o - various parts of the col ny. One third were Culpeper
men , who adopted a flag, white field with the significant
e device of a coiled rattl snake . They dressed in green hunting shirts with Henry ’ s words of Liberty or Death ”
in large white letters on their bosoms .
SOUTH CAROLINA PALMETTO FLAG .
n e o n South Caroli a had thr e flags , one , kn w as the
” the Palmetto Flag, had a serpent coiled at base of a palmetto tree .
“ The best known of the three is that known as Colo
’ ” r d of rt u nel Moult ie s Flag, used in the efence Fo S lli
’ - i van, now Fort Moultrie , on Sullivan s Island , in Charles
[ 2 4 ]
e r e Sergeant Jasp r sprang fo ward , secur d them and had
fell j ust fastened them upon the parapet when he , pierced
a o . o by a rifle b ll . H e expired so n afterwards Just bef re
“ he died he said to Major Horry, Tell Mrs . Elliott I lost my life supporting the colors she presented to our regi
” ment . Surely this is a message from the flag to the women of the country .
( SERPENT FLAG South Carolina) .
” The Serpent Flag of South Carolina had thirteen
a stripes , alternate blue and red , a r ttlesnake and motto ,
“ ’ ” e e Don t Tread on Me . It will be obs rv d from the constant use of thirteen strip es in the flags and thirteen
a st rs in the Rhode Island Flag, the full number of colonies
were always included .
NEW ENGLAND PINE TREE .
The New England Pine Tree Flag differed from the
Massachusetts Flag adopted as a Naval Flag, mentioned
e . c lat r It had a red field , the Pine Tree o cupied the
-on entire uni , which was white . LIBERTY TREE FLAG .
“ The Liberty Tree Flag w as the o utcome of the
“ ” many meetings held under the Liberty Tree by an association called the Sons of Liberty during the summer of 1 765 as th h . It w e rallying place of t e patriots from
“ ” 1 774 . sc r on Was in ribed the Libe ty Tree, and the f lag, a white field with blue border, showing the tree, was used by the men of Boston .
FLAG OF TH E CONTIN ENTAL NAVY (Yellow, coiled
snake) .
’ t e The usual mo to, Don t Tread On Me, app ars
o on a flag with yell w field and coiled rattlesnake , which
l o was originally designed and presented by Co . Christ
pher Gadsden, of South Carolina , a member of the Ma
o 8 1 776 rine C mmittee , to Congress on February th , , as
“ a standard to be used by the Commander- ln - Chief of
” od the American Navy . Comm ore Esek Hopkins held this rank in the Navy and is said to be the first naval com mander to use it .
A ( THE R TTLESNAKE FLAG .
“ The famous Rattlesnake Hag consisted of thirteen [ 2 6 ]
’ red and white stripes with the motto Don t Tread On
” Me . , and a snake stretched from corner to corner It was used by different organizations of the American Arm y
h e o during t e R voluti n , but particularly by the vessels of the American Navy as early as 1 775: It has been called the “ Paul Jones Flag” and was displayed with
i e the Pi n e Tree N aval Flag . ) It was the first ens gn ev r
- of- shown by a regular American man war, and was raised
e 1 775 on board the Alfred in the Delaware, Decemb r ,
5 by the hands of J ohn Paul Jones , Esek Hopkins First
Lieutenant . While the colonists were gathering under these stan
on 22d dards, April the Provincial Congress of Massa chu setts of ff had been summoned , an account a airs drawn
o up and sent to England , with the declarati n that tyran n ical 15 rule would no longer be submitted to . June ,
1 775 t , the Con inental Congress at Philadelphia unani m ou sl W y appointed George ashington , of Virginia, to be
General and Commander- in - Chief of the armies raised
m te B efore for the ain nance of American Liberty. g W ash in gton could reach his army the Battle of Bunker Hill
be had en fought and the siege of B oston begun . The [ 2 7 ]
’ first redoubt over which a flag floated was on Breed s
1 7th 1 775 Hill , June , . It was called the New England
“ n . Flag. It is now know as the Bunker Hill Flag It
1686 had a blue field , the union the flag of , with a pine
e a 7 tre in pl ce of the sphere of 1 35 .
N EW N E GLAND FLAG (Bunker Hill Flag) .
It bore an invitation to the British Army to Come
” On If You Dare . The invitation was accepted and the
War for Independence was formally begun .
BATTLE OF B UN KER HILL .
The story of the battle is too well known to be re
a p e ted . The flag displayed on Bunker Hill was undoubt edl has y blue . It been described as red . The confusion probably arose from the fact that while Putnam com m an ded on e on Prospect Hill , a crimson flag bearing on
“ ” “ u i side the motto Appeal to Heaven , on the other Q
“ Tran stu li-t Su stin et He w ho transplanted will su stain
” u s - was presented him and unfurled on the 1 8th of
July ensuing . { 2 8 }
ELM WHERE WASH IN GTON TOOK COMMAND
OF H IS TROOPS .
the Under elm known as the Washington Elm , Cam
’ 4th o bridge, Mass ., on the of July, Washingt n s commis sion was read in the presence of a detachment of the army an d the Provincial Congres s of Massachu setts when he
o o t ok c mmand .
These events prepared the way for united action ;
o for therefore, in this year the first rec rd of a desire some
“ settled form of naval standard is found , that our vessels
” n a h w as a may k ow e ch other, General Was ington p
ffi r pealed to and he, with two o ce s about to command
1 775 “ cruisers, in October, , selected the Pine Tree Flag, a white field with a pine tree in the center and the motto
“ ” An App eal to Heaven .
PINE TREE NAVAL FLAG .
1 5 1 787 It was used from 77 to . Colonel Joseph
Reed , military secretary to General Washington , is said
c r of to have suggested its use . A cording to a po trait
1 776 Esek Hopkins, published in London in , the words
“ ” “ the A Liberty Tree were at the top , and at bottom p [ 2 9 ]
peal to God . In the request for the naval flag was
e heard the first call for union . The colonies , as stat d , had
colors or banners . Now the army needed a visible sign .
“ o The Flag of the Uni n was the result , and is known as the Cambridge Flag .
CAMBRIDGE FLAG .
“ The first flag of the United Colonies w as flung
’ to the breeze before General Washington s headquarters
l st 1 776 at Cambridge , January , , a brief glance at its history tells us .
WASH INGTON ’ S H EADQ UARTERS AT CAM
BRIDGE ( Flag) .
1 775 . e . In the latter part of Dr Franklin , with M ssrs
su b Lynch and Harrison , were appointed to consider the
ect a kn ow l j of a National Flag . England was still the c
e edged sovereign , but the thirte n colonies intended to
’ the unite to defend their rights , therefore King s Colors, or “ Union Jack ” was united with the thirteen
alternate red and white rebellious stripes , as England
e s called th m, repre enting the colonies . John Paul Jones [ 3 0 ]
was the first naval offi cer to display this flag of America .
He hoisted it with his own hands on his vessel , the Alfred .
A flag of peculiar interest came into existence about “ i this time , and was called the Banner of Wash ngton Life ” h Guards . It had a white field wit device and motto
“ ” Conquer or Die .
BANNER OF TH E WASH IN GTON LIFE GUARDS .
The Gua rd was a corps of superior men attached to
de - in - the person of the Comman r Chief. All the States which supplied troops to the Continental Army were rep
I 1 7 resented . t was organized in 7 6 while the American
N ew Army was encamped on Manhattan Island , near
York City. The uniform was a blue coat with white
c fa ings , white waistcoat and breeches, black half gaiters , a cocked hat with white and blue feather an d sword and cross belt .
1 779 - 80 the e During the winter, , Guard was increas d
250 . to It was reduced soon after to its original number, f 1 80 . 23 d 1 783 e o On December , , it was must red out
r n d o s se vice on Co stitution Islan , opp site We t Point, New
York .
[ 3 2 1
thirteen original States
N ew ( Hampshire , Pennsylvania“ as u “ M sach setts, Delaware, d Islan d Rho e m Maryland ,
Connecticut, Virginia ,”
N ew ( i York , North Carol na ,
C New J South Carolina ,
Georgia .
It was signed in Independence Hall , Philadelphia .
INDEPENDENCE HALL .
“ This is the hallowed spot where first unfurling
Fair Freedom spread her blazing scroll of light ,
’ o Here fr m oppression s throne the tyrant hurling,
She stoo d supreme in majesty and might .
o Here sto d the Patriot , one union folding N The Eastern, orthern , Southern sage and seer, l Within that iving bond which , truth upholding,
’ Proclaims each m an his fellow s peer .
s o Here ro e the anthem which all nati ns hearing, In loud respo nse the echoes backward hurled ;
Reverberating still the ceaseless cheering, ” Our continent repeats it to the world . — George W . Dewey. [ 3 3 ]
Independence Hall is cherished by the people of Pennsylvania and by the people of the whole Union as
b e the most revered relic of the war for independence , cause it contains the hall where that Declaration of Inde
en den ce w as e p discuss d , adopted in council , signed and sent forth to the world .
An old legend tells us A new star is born for each
” new life , and a star falls for a life departed .
SPIRIT OF LIBERTY. The spirit of liberty drew aside the curtain of night and the symbols of a new life appeared in a con stellation — each star a sparkling gem , resting on the everlasting
of blue, the symbol loyalty, sincerity and love ; the red of the old time daring and val or united with the white — light of truth , purity of purpose and thought and the
o the new nati n , up lifted by visions of future , sent a new ensign aloft .
A FIRST AMERI CAN FL G .
14th 1 77 7 . Its birthday was June , Every year that
o se r lls by es that birthday more universally observed , the [ 34 ]
realization of its importance more generally felt and more reverence shown . May the time come when every Amer ican citizen will feel a pride in displaying ou r national l emblem on F ag Day . The history of the making of the first flag will not
to of be out of place here , though probably known most
a rt o r us . General W shington accompanied by Robe M r is l s . . and Colonel Ro s, cal ed upon Mrs John Ross
: R M . S JOH N ROSS (Mrs . Betsy) . She was a widow who kept an upholsterer ’ s shop at
239 Arch street, Philadelphia .
She was engaged to make a flag from a pencil draw
ing modified for her by General Washington . She sug gested changing the star from the English rule of six
“ of points to that the French five points . The change
ffi — was made, and our first o cial flag was made the basis
of our present flag, of which Henry Ward Beecher said
“ It is a whole national history. It is the constitution .
It is the government . It is the free people that stand in s the government on the constitution . It expres es Divine
” f r right o libe ty in man .
. ( . SITE OF FORT STANWI ( Rome , N
or At F t Stanwix , Rome , New York , between August
3d oth 1 777 r u n and , , the Stars and St ipes were first
’ furled in battle in Willett s famou s sortie . The flag is de
’ “ scribed in Will ett s narrative as being made from white
I r ammunition shi ts for the white stripes , from a camlet
” a e r clo k from the en my at Peekskill for the blue, and from different pieces of stuff proc ured from one and another
” of the garrison for red stripes .
The site has been recently carefully surveyed and
n marked by can on placed near the four bastions . Bronze
the tablets, placed there by descendants of many of the
of heroes Oriskany , mark the gun carriages .
r m From the shop and the fa m and the foru ,
From the cabin , the cot and the hall , m ’ Fro the emigrant s camp in the forest , ’ They mustered at Liberty s call .
oo e Gave, unstinting, their bl d and their treasur o For manh od , and justice , and right , a Undismayed amid d rkness and treason ,
Fighting on into freedom and light . of r i And here, on the site Fo t Stanw x , “ ” Where Old Glory was first unfurled , “ ’ Is the vow of their Daughters devotion e r To the bonni st flag of the wo ld .
Fort Stanwix D . A . R .
RAISING FLAG IN THE N O RTW ’ ESTERN PART OF
N EW YORK STATE .
As n soo as the flags could be made or purchased , the
n towns raised them with fitting ceremo ies . A painting of a flag- raising in the northwestern part of New York
“ ”
r . . State is in the Flower mansion at Wate town , N Y
’
C D . MON UMENT AT COO H S BRI GE , DELAWARE
It seems well established that the Stars and Stripes
were carried at the Battle of the Brandywine , September
1 1 h 1 he t 777 . t , The claim that it was first unfurled at
’ f of c e 3 d a fair Coo h s Bridg in Delaware , September , has
o been commem rated by a monument .
H EADQ UARTERS AT VALLEY FORGE .
1 777 es During the winter of , General Washington [ 3 7 ]
ff of tablished headquarters at Valley Forge . The su erings that band of patriots will never be fully known . That through it all they remained true to their flag and country is for us to remember .
FIGHT BETWEEN THE BON HOMME RI CHARD AND TH E SERAPIS
e 22d 1 7 78 e Sept mber , , occurred the Battle b tween h the B on Homme Richard , Captain Jo n Paul Jones , com
o m . manding, and the Serapis , Captain Pears n in co mand It is the spirit displayed by John Paul J ones that makes it a part of the history of the flag. When asked by
“ s if hi s Cap tain Pear on he struck colors , he answered , I
” n e few f o have ot b gu n to fight . A hours a ter Pears n
o struck his c lors with his own hands . The Spirit of the
’ F e o lag s tru message sp ke and led to victory .
It was first saluted by a foreign power at Q uiberon
“ ” Bay, France . The ship Ranger bearing the Stars and
e Strip s, commanded by Captain John Paul Jones, ar
at 14th 1 778 rived a French port, February , , and received f w ho e rom Admiral La Motte , r presented the French Gov ern m en t , the first salute ever paid the flag by foreign naval vessels. [ 38 ]
JOHN PAUL J ONES .
For years the last resting place of this hero who so many times ca rried the flag to victory remained u n
e e known . To Gen . Horace Port r b longs the honor of discovering the burial place and to Rear Admiral Sigsbee the honor of bringing to this country the casket contain ing the remains .
L F AG SENT BY D . A . R .
h n t e . o McLean It was te der thought of Mrs D nald ,
Presid ent General of the National Society Daughters of
a o the American Revolution , th t sent the flag fr m women to cover the casket with the colors he so many times sent aloft .
CASKET AS CARRIED ON BOARD .
the w w as Covered with Flag and flo ers , the casket
o e carried on board the Bro klyn , Rear Admiral Sigsb e
6th 1905 . commanding, July ,
CASKET AS IT MADE TH E J OURNEY .
Covered with the flag it made the journey from
Cherbo urg to this country . It was transferred to the 5 24th 190 . Naval Academy , Annapolis, July ,
[ 40 ]
7th . r Flag of the Regiment , British On the ga ter it
“ o e : bears a French m tto , which translated r ads Evil to
” 1 776 1 79 1 him who evil thinks . From until the same
American flag xrved . Then a new star claimed recog
i i n 1 79 1 n t o . . March , , Vermont was admitted Kentucky,
1 792 . e w as June, In consequ nce a bill framed to alter
the . 1 3th 1 794. flag This bill was approved January ,
“ As an act making alteration in the flag of the United
” l st 1 795 States, it provided that after May , , the flag of
e the United States be fift en stripes , alternate red and
white , and the union be fifteen stars , white in a blue field .
( FIRST FLAG OF AMERICAN E PANSION .
This first flag of American expansion w as used
1812 h 1 3t 1 818. the War of , and until April , A few the flags of this period had the stars arranged so as f orm one large star.
FRANCIS SCOTT KEY.
ow e To Francis Scott Key a Maryland lawyer, we
” s of the in pired words the Star Spangled Banner . Held
all night in a Flag of Truce vessel , he watched the bom [ 4 1 ]
r m en t McHen r 1 3th 1 814. ba d of Fort y , September , On
14th e the morning of the the words w re written .
FORT MCHENRY .
In his joy on seeing the flag of his country safe , he described the scene as he actually saw it . The flag that
“ ” McHen r Key saw on Fort y had broad stripes, forty
“ ” w feet long. The bright stars ere each two feet from p oint to point .
’ KEY S GRAVE .
In a modest grave the man who se memory is en h shrined in the earts of American people was laid . A
his o c simple stone nly monument, until the Key Asso ia
w as u 1 894 e r tion incorporated , Aug st , , in ord r to e ect
or a suitable mem ial .
’ KEY S MON UMEN T.
9th 1 898 On August , , was unveiled a fitting monu
the ment to writer of the greatest American anthem . One of the most beautiful tributes to his memory was paid by [ 42 ]
i a distinguished woman , who was born in Freder ck
n McLean . Mrs . Do ald
’
T . KEY S MON UMEN , SEAL OF THE AS SOCIATION
“ ” o a The Key Monument Association ad pted seal , and throu gh its exertions an enduring tribute was reared .
If the patriotic em otion prompting the words of our
National anthem could find a responsive chord in the
r o heart of every Ame ican citizen t day, there would be
ve fla o en a uni rsal g law, needing no act of C ngress to
Th w u it. e force law of love, reverence and respect o ld
guard it night and day, reaching from the Aleutian
of ) s Islands (part Alaska , where , guarding our po sessions
“ ’ ” e far westward , it is s en at the twilight s last gleaming,
“ m i e and at the same ti e at Eastport , Ma n , it catches the
’ gleam of the m om in g s first beam . Our flag on which the sun never sets (
CAPTAIN JAMES LAWRENCE .
f “ ’ The words o Captain James Lawrence, don t give
” e up the ship , as he fell mortally wound d , have awakened — renewed interest in this naval fight of 1 8 12 as through [ 43 ]
the press it has been announced a fragment of the flag
o e 1 813 fr m the Chesapeak , captured by the British in , is to be sold .
FLAG OF TH E CHESAPEAKE .
The relic seems authentic enough to be quoted in i connection w th this history, and the sincere hope ex
pressed , it may be returned to this country .
1 812 n ot The flag of , though made famous , could remain unchanged in the rapidly growing nation . Again 1796 new states claimed their birthright ; Tennessee , ;
1 80 2 1 816 1817 . Ohio , ; Louisiana , , and Mississippi , A law was enacted principally through the exertion of the
Of . Hon . Peter Wendover, New York
Congress ruled to return to the thirteen stripes rep resenting the original states under whose valor American
“ Independence was gained , and that every state admitted to the Uni on shall be represented by a star in the union
” of the flag .
24TH 1 818 FLAG OF MARCH , .
ri 4th 181 8 the On Ap l , , when new law went into ff b e ect , our present flag was esta lished with twenty stars in
of the Union . The new flag was hoisted over the House
Re r s 1 3 th 1 818 p e entatives, April , , though the law pro h vided that the act was not to take eff ect until July 4t .
i the This law, providing for the addit on of a new star on
Fourth of July next succeeding the admission of a new f State , is yet in orce .
Once more the hands of women carried out the de
and . sign , the flag was made in New York City by Mrs
S . C . Reid , assisted by other ladies , under the direction of o f her husband , Captain Reid , who was commander
Th s r . e the privateer, General Armstrong pre ent autho ized arrangement of the stars in the union was finally settled by an order of President Monroe through the
a o e 15th 1 81 8 N vy B ard , dated S ptember , .
TH E REVEN UE FLAG .
M 2n d 1 799 e arch , , an act of Congress creat d the
. e Revenue Flag It consisted of sixteen stripes, repres nting — the numb er of states admitted to the Union the union of the ensign bearing the arms of the United States in dark blue on a white field . No change has been made
S ince. [ 4 5 ]
O O B Y ( R FLAG G ES .
Our Flag goes by . Hats off Along the street there comes
b s ffl A lare of bugle a ru e of drums , A flash of color beneath the sky ; Hats off
The flag is passing by .
Blue and crimson and white it shines ,
the Over steel tipped ordered lines , Hats off The colors before us fly ;
But more than the flag is passing by .
Sea fights and land fights , grim and great , Fought to make and to save the State ; Weary marches and sinking ships ;
r r Chee s of victo y on dying lips .
D ays of plenty and days of p eace ;
’ March of a strong land s swift increase ;
Equal justice , right and law ; Stately honor and reverent awe ; [ 46 ]
Sign of a nation , great and strong, To ward her people from foreign wrong ;
r P ide , and glory, and honor , all
o Live in the col rs , to stand or fall
Hats off Along the street here comes
of ffl A blare trumpets, a ru e of drums ; And loyal hea rts are beating high Hats off
The flag is passing by .
H . H . Bennett .
The first flag made of American bunting was raised
n 24th 1 866 . over the capitol at Washingto , February ,
e It was the gift of Hon . B njamin F. Butler, of Massa h c u setts. Many times hearts have thrilled at the sight of “ O ld’ ” Glory, as it was lovingly called by Stephen Driver,
u he of Massach setts . As a sea captain made a solemn
“ ” e e . vow to defend Old Glory , if n d be with his life
The r ih first State to add a star after the act of Ap il 4 ,
1 818 , was Illinois , in December of that year.
- — Tw en ty four stars have been added since then not
[ 48 ]
The flag means progress . In our early history the
u o str ggle with f reign oppression , and the cruelty of savage
c warfare , went hand in hand . The pri e of peace is war b against ondage and inhumanity .
e Liberty ver the watchword , controlled by the motto
” m o right makes ight , passed on from generati n to genera
the tion , has three times made United States one of the
w ar combatants in .
1 812 - 15— c o With England prin ipally a naval c nflict ,
a before alluded to . M ny British vessels were captured .
N ot fl r once was our ag lowe ed in surrender . — e 1 846- 48 a With M xico , new State, Texas , asked
o Mex for her star in the Uni n , though practically free . ico considered the granting of the request a declaration
The of war . United States acquired at the close Cali forn ia N ew and Mexico .
THE O wn CUBAN FLAG ( ) .
s re Our late t interference , nine years ago , was to lieve the oppressed people who fought under the Cuban
Flag against Spanish oppression .
2 tst 1 898 On April , , Secretary Long, United States [ 49 ]
D of Pa Navy, cabled to Admiral ewey , in command the
ific c Squadron , to capture or destroy the fleet in the har bor of Manila . Under the Stars and Stripes the order was obeyed .
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT AS LIEUTENANT
COLONEL .
Our President has been associated in the minds of
“ ” - the people as Lieut Col . of the Rough Riders . It is
Lieu ten particularly pleasing to note his photograph , as
- o rt . ant Colonel , was aut graphed for this pa icular history
“ ” With Col . Wood he led the Rough Riders at La Guasi
24th. mas , Friday, June
3 rd 5 o July , the investing th Army C rps raised above
he o its trenches t Nati nal and Regimental Colors . July
’ 1 7 12 o th, at Santiago at o cl ck noon , the Spanish colors h e e . w re lowered in surr nder to our flag October 1 8t ,
1 898 w as se , our flag rai d on the Palace at Ponce , Porto
Rico .
The suffering of the b o om before and after the
e - war are too recent to ne d more than brief mention .
Women all over the country came to the rescue . Who [ 50 ]
a e u c shall tell of the hundreds of lives s crific d , that j sti e and humanity might prevail (
The horrors of warfare roused the nation and again
d for soun ed the call peace , and it is believed a new flag,
“ the . Peace Flag, has found a permanent place
PEACE FLAG .
A brief history of the Peace movement is here given .
e t 12th In Independ nce Hall , Philadelphia, Oc ober ,
1 89 1 399 e the —a , years aft r discovery of America meeting of representatives fro m the Pan - American R epublics was
n held , to co sider a plan by which peace for all nations
e might be s cured . Mrs . Gillespie, a granddaughter of
k e o Benjamin Fran lin , wish d to interest the w men of the
“ ” cou n r Th y in forming e United States of the World .
. McD ow ell Mr , who was interested in the Soc iety of
s the Daughters of the American Revolution , sugge ted the
a e women should create some sign of p e c .
Mr. Henry Petit , an artist , was asked to make a de
sign for an international emblem of peace . In present
r e ing his repo t , he allud d to the love each country had for h its own colors, t erefore proposed each nation shou ld u se [ 5 1 ]
its own colors, surrounded by a white border . The idea was imme diately accepted .
’ The first Peace Flag made was by the Women s Silk
’ o cc Weavers S ciety of Philadelphia , who selected
n -s the coo , reared them , spun and dyed the silk , and made
the i flag , Un on had thirteen gilt stars, as in the Betsy
s Ro s flag .
w o e of T of the larg st flags were bunting, and were
gifts from the American Lyceum , paid for by collections
“ ’ ” made by the . Youth s Companion , of Boston .
O n e of these flags , at Navesink , received all the navies of the world . It was first saluted under com mand of Captain Schley .
The second flag went to the Columbian Exposition ,
. its ff Chicago It remained on sta until blown to atom s . Flags from the United States and Great Britain have been given to the permanent court of arbitration at The
a H gu e .
on e th One to the Parliament of England , to e Parlia ment of Holland .
PRESENTATION OF HOLLAND PEACE FLAG . 190 8 It was used this year , , to open Parliament, by
e of the Q ue n Holland . [ 52 ]
One presented to the American Congress ; one to
Baron de Constans, of the French Senate ; one is in the
the s hands of United States Congress, for pre entation to
Germany.
fl An Two ags were given by Miss Rachel Higgens, of
of sonia , in the name of the children America to Miss
n Marguerite de Co stans.
CHILD WITH FLAG .
Kate Douglas Wiggin (Mrs . Riggs) , the writer , has,
through her conception of the mind of a child , sent on
t sa its way through quain little Rebecca , this mes ge of peace from our stars . To the boys of the nation it is given as a trust to carry on
’ For it s your star, my star, all the stars together, That makes our country ’ s flag so proud
To float in the bright fall weather .
rn s Northe stars, Southern stars , tars of the East
West,
e Side by side they lie at peac ,
’ ’ O n fla s s the dear g mother s brea t . [ 53 ]
Captain Richmond Pearson Hobson, in a message from the Peace Congress in New York to the Daughters
190 7 of the American Revolution , April , , speaking of our
“ s : flag, aid I know. that every one here before me
agrees and will teach others, and they will teach genera
o t A i i ti ns to come , hat while mericans l ve , they w ll never allow any flag under heaven made by the hand of man to go above our Stars and Stripes as long as they con tin u e to wave for human liberty My Cou n tryw om en , all the color in that flag, rich and warm , stands for sympathy with the oppressed and suffering sons of men
s — over all the earth . And the tars have you ever looked at them closely ( I sometimes wish that every American could see those stars when the smoke and thunder are
m in the air, or perhaps could see the in a foreign land .
h e e They glitter, t ey sparkl , they twinkl , as if they knew that the glorious constellation they form has been set by God Himself in the very vault of the firm am en t to lighten the night of the darkened world .
’ At the conclusion of Captain Hobson s address, the
si - McLean te Pre dent General , Mrs . , appointed a commit e to present a copy of resoluti ons to the Peace Congress [ 54 ]
assembled in N ew York City ; also to present Mr . Andrew
Carn egie with the Great Peace Flag .
PEACE FLAG WITH RESOLUTIONS . The add ress of Captain Hobson was made and the
resolutions adopted in Continental Memorial Hall , Wash i ff in ton . . s g , D C Th building had been o ered by the
President- General for the use of the Peace Envoys from
Russia and Japan .
J u st recently a change in the present flag has been
the urged . If such a change is necessary, may order of the stars be left unchanged and the white border added
“ ” and the Peace Flag be the new flag of the nation , sent
f - of . on its mission by the ef orts women Gen . George i Washington saw the first flag as a vis on , and in its real ization our Nation stands for Peace .
PEACE ALLEGORY .
The angel of peace stands ready to sou nd the deep
e toned not of Concord to be heard around the world ,
“ and thus through the work of women the bow of pro-m
” “ ise seen in the skies may find its fulfillment in Peace
” all for Nations .
[ 56 1
tion on the flag of the country . There is a bill before
Congress to make a law to that effect . Look up to your
’ — country s flag remember the poo r wounded soldier who held the staff between his teeth and the folds of his flag
( on e in hand above his head , while he crawled to shelter a w o e . dr gging his unded limb aft r him When rescued , he looked at the surgeon as he sank into unconsciousness
“ and said : I have but done my duty. The old flag never
” ’ touched the ground . Do y our best for your own star,
on e each and every , and
“ The star- spangled banner in triumph shall wave ’ f O er the land of the ree, and the home of the brave .
The desc endents of the first col onists welcom ed to
s the e shores all desiring the privilege of freedom . Col on ists from practically every country have found pro tection under the American flag . Under these circum stances it has become a necessity to teach the principles
— an d which it represents loyalty to , respect for, it can
only come with this knowledge .
M LEAN MRS . DONALD c .
0 McLean T Mrs . Donald , the coming generation will [ 57 ]
n owe much of this knowledge . Bor in the old ancestral
e home at Frederick , Maryland , lov of flag and country
were hers by birthright .
BIRTHPLACE .
When it seemed necessary for the women to unite
e to teach patriotism , she ent red as a charter member the
National S ociety of the Daughters of the American Revo
lu tion . , of which she is now the President General Her
e Of) special work has be n , and is, the inculcation American
r r p inciples, adjuring the women of the country to ca ry
on the message from the Flag .
o s Fr m hundreds, of places visited , where addres es
have been made, for the purpose in mind , the most public
c t o casions, where illus rations have been obtainable , have
been selected . The quotations from addresses are in Mrs .
’ McLean s own words .
“ m e w Fro Charl sto n , South Carolina , where the Flag
” of Eutaw Springs is cherished , she brings a message to
the young girls and women . [ 53 ]
FLAG OF EUTAW SPRINGS .
A young hero of the American Revolution was called
—he on to protect his country. It was only his country
e red had no flag. A young Southern girl tore a pi ce of i brocad e from the back of a cha r , crushed it into his
“ : s ff t arms , and said Rai e this upon your flagsta , and ca ty
’ it into the battle as the heart s bl ood of the women of
” a Th your country b ck of you . e Battle of Eutaw Springs
s . was one of the most desperate . The hero has pas ed on b That flag, the gift of a woman , has een preserved , and
ou for an d all I say to y his sake, for the sake of the men who upheld and protected flags made by women ’ s
s hand , that you uphold the hands of the men who are
n h worthy in tur to uphold t e flag .
14th 190 1 From the Music Hall , Flag Day, June , ,
an d the flag encouraged the men women to live for it ,
and die for it if need be . And here , while the flag was
o e 8th 190 1 fl ating in his honor, Sept mber , , President
Kin Mc ley laid down his life . Six years passed—then the message to return to pay
a a tribute to this m rtyr President w as received . [ 59 ]
M KIN LEY c N . Y. MON UMENT, BU FFALO ,
e 6th 190 7 es On S ptember , , in the pr ence of a vast
multitude, as the flag glided slowly downward , Mrs . Mc
“ Lean closed her eloquent address with these words : Re
r membe not only the heroes who made you a nation , but
him who helped nobly to preserve it .
e o Com , w men of all lands and climes , bring here the constant tribute of devoted and hallowed memory of the — man who made of marriage in his high , pure love his
holy grail .
soatin n a Rise, g shaft, in mo olithic beauty, in gle ming
- a c whiteness, in ever s ending aspiration , and may per
” perpetual light shine upon you .
of The flag used is one the largest ever made, and
as it was made for this particular purpose , has been chris
“ ”— tened the Mc Kin ley Flag adding one more historical
fla g to the group .
ou r l In Washington , National Capito , a tribute to all
e d the h roic dee s of the men , women and children of the
h n al e e t . t irteen origi Stat s, is being rec ed It is named
“ ” a orial Continent l Mem Hall . [ 60 ]
CONTIN ENTAL MEMORIAL. HALL .
From each State where a desc endant is loc ated is sent the quota to represent its interests. When com
leted p , an exact copy of the flag made by Betsy Ross
l f ff of wil float rom the sta . It is to be the gift the Flag
o f House Chapter Pennsylvania .
“ 0 ( r , Blessed Flag Sign of our p ecious past,
Triumphant present , and our future vast ,
Beyond starred blue and bars of sunset bright , Lead us to higher realms of equal right ( on Float , in every allegory , Kin to the eagle and wind and light “ ” o or ( Our hallowed , el quent , beloved Old Gl y
Selected .