OCR Text |
Show FLAG DAY, DAY AFTER TOMORROW. The American Flag association, which is an association of individuals nnd members of Flag CommlttccB from patriots pa-triots societies In the United States, formed in 3S97, to promote reverence for and prevent the desecration of the Flag of Our Country, has issued a circular enjoining the due and proper observance of Flag Day, June 14 th. The circular Is addressed to the Mayor of each American, city; to the American Press; to the officers and membs.u of all American patriotic societies; to all school officers and school ttcachers; and "to all our fellow citizens." It reminds all that Tuesday, Juno 11th. 1004, will j be the one hundred and twenty-seventh anniversary of the adoption of the Stars nnd Stripes as the Flag of the United States, and, inspired by tlie increased public recognition of Flag Day as a National Na-tional anniversary, earnestly requests tho co-operation of all In securing the widest possible observance of that day this year. Mayors are requested to order tho Hags to be displayed upon the municipal buildings of their respective cities, and by formal proclamation or otherwise to invito their fellow citizens to do the same upon their private buildings. Edi tors are requester to remmu tne people of the day, to comment upon St, to publish pub-lish historical articles on the subject of the flag, and to request the public to display the National colors on June 11th. School officers and teachers are requested to arrange for patriotic exercises exer-cises appropriate to tho day. American patriotic societies arc urged to lead in the observance of the anniversary, ar.d to stir up popular enthusiasm for It. Finally, all American citizens are urged to take part In the recognition of the birthday of the emblem of our nationality. nation-ality. A programme for the schools, the salute sa-lute to the flag, is carried in the circular circu-lar in the following form: At a given hour in the morning tho pupils pu-pils are assembled and in their places la the school. A signal is given by the principal prin-cipal of tho school. Every pupil rises In his place. The Flag is brought forward to the principal or teacher. While it Is being brought forward from tho door to the stand of the principal or teacher every pupil gives the Flag tho military suluto, which la as follows- Tho right hand uplifted, palm upward, to a line with tho forehead, closo to it. While- thus standing with the palm upward up-ward and in tho attitude of salute, all the pupils repeat together slowly and distinctly dis-tinctly the following pledge: "I pledge allegiance to my Flag and to the Republic for which It stands, Ono nation Indivisible, with liberty and Justlco for nil." At tho words, as pronounced In this pledge, "To my Flag" each ono extends tho right hand gracefully, palm upward, toward the Flag until tho end of tho plcdgo affirmation. Then all hands drop to one side. Tho pupils, still standing, all sing together In unison thn flong "America" "Ameri-ca" "My Country 'Tis of Thee." In tho primary departments, where tho children arc very small, they aro taught to repeat this, instead of tho pledgo as given for the older children: "I give mv head and my heart to God and my Country." Ono Country, ono Lancuagc, ono Flag." In some schools tho salute Is given In silence, as an act of reverence, unaccompanied unaccom-panied by any pledge. At a signal, as tho Flag reoches Its station, tho right hand Is raised, palm downward, to a horizontal position against the forehead, and held there until tho Flag is dipped and returned to a vertical position. Then, at a second signal, the hand is dropped to the side and the pupil takes his seat. The silent salute conforms verv eloselv to tho military and naval salute to the Flag. Principals may adopt the "silent salute" for a dally exercise and the "plcdgo salute" sa-lute" for special occasions. That li a very good and attractive exercise for the schools; it's a pity that so few of them will be In session to carry It out. |