OCR Text |
Show The Oldest Flag By Mrs. Gertrude R. Emery Chairman, National Americanism Committee American Legion Auxiliary Though the United States of America is counted a young Nation, ours is the oldest flag, in continuous form, in the world. Dynastic and territorial changes have altered the flags of other nations; our flag holds the same form adopted at the beginning, with changes only in the number num-ber of stars to correspond with the number of States in the Union, and for some years in the number of stripes. By reason of the number of States, the circle of stars in the field of blue has been succeeded by rows of stars. The thirteen original States are still symbolized in the thirteen stripes. Ours is the most beautiful flag in the world, not merely because of what it symbolizes, but because of the happy character of the design and Its effective blending of colors. Nothing upon the flag represent anything less than the union of stars; there is no heraldic legend, no dynastic coat of arms. Its design did not evolve, as has been claimed, from the Washington cont-of-arms. In part, It developed form colonial banners; in part, the design was original, and so unique that there is never difficulty in distinguishing it from other flags. In this day when so many people think they may achieve a reputation repu-tation for knowing more than others by assailing every American Institution, In-stitution, character and tradition, it is not surprising that the American people have what they call "flag worship." The American people reverence rever-ence the flag because of what it symbolizes. Those who ridicule that reverence, themselves have no reverence and in many cases no respect for the history, the ideals and the Institutions for which the flag stands. It is natural that those who have no love for the Nation should have no sentimental feeling for the flag of the Republic. In all the world's history there is no other chapter so heroic, so romantic, so inspiring as that which has woven itself about the Star-Spangled Star-Spangled Banner. We are perhaps too close to it to fully appreciate it In all the legendery and recorded history of the race, there is not another an-other subject for an epic so compelling as this story. No struggle for nationhood compares in heroism, statesmanship or In self-sacrifice with that of our American Revolution. Never were wiser or purer men Joined in so great a work as that of formulating our Federal Constitution, which Gladstone described as 'the greatest ever struck, at a given time, from the brain and purpose of man " The progress of the American people from the dav when there were but three million colonists thinly scattered along the Atlantic seaboard, to the time when America, with a continental continent-al domain, has become the richest and the happiest nation In the world, is a true story more absorbing than is to be found in the pages of fiction. The flag stands for all that made such progress, and such service to humanity, possible. The unbelievable growth of this Republic was no accident It was the result of the application of new principles which time has vindicated beyond the dreams of the founder. Today these principles are challenged by exponents of doctrines our forefathers rejected re-jected when they framed our charter of liberty; doctrines which are the natural outgrowth of European systems and ideas. These doctrines are in no sense indigenous to America, but are imported from the Old World upon which the pioneers of America turned their backs when they launched upon the great adventure of the Revolution and made sure the safeguarding of its fruits through the adoption of our national Constitution. Con-stitution. It will be a sad day for America when our people grow ashamed of patriotism; when they hesitate to yield to the flag that evidence of their reverence which bespeaks their love for it, and their willingness to fight and die for it, if need be. That flag will never be lifted in any project of conquest. It will never be raised in battle except in defense of the lives and liberties of American citizens. As a battle flag it need never be feared except by those who attack the Nation from within or without. One hundred and fifty-tight years of the flag! Will It still be afloat when another one hundred and fifty years have come and gone? Will America follow, to quote the words of Washington, "the usual course of nations," through decay to ruin, or will it still be the emblem of the natiqn where men have a larger share of freedom, of safety and of happiness than they have elsewhere In the world? That answer is within ourselves. Our Government, from its very nature, will reflect the character char-acter of its own citizenship, for it Is ours to make or mar the Republic. Whether ours is to remain the world's oldest flag, representing the largest measure of freedom, opportunity and progress anywhere enjoyed by man, depends upon whether we not only continue to cherish the emblem' of nationality, but stand ready to defend it against all enemies from without and within. We can lose our national heritage only through indifference to the duties and obligations of citizenship. In those who love the flag and the nation for which it stands, indifference to these duties and obligations is nothing short of treason. |