Show tL I f k L ALLEGIANCE t Iff t tAt t o w. w c y 7 1 1 tI I I BY ELMO SCOTT WATSON I X S JU JUNE E 14 thousands 1 jil of Americans will wUl as asa asa asa a part of the annual celebration of Flag lay fay repeat this sentence sentence sentence sen sen- tence I pledge allegiance allegiance al al- to the nag Dag of the United States and to the Republic for which It stands one IDe ge nation indivisible with liberty slid aDd Justice for alL aiL It U has been Bill aid that The Pledge to the Flag lit IS been repeated more than any other ether Quotation from modern literature lit lit- For that reason the man vho wrote It and the circumstances under inder which It was written deserve to be remembered It Is Is' Is singularly appropriate that till this pledge which has been ret repeated repeat repeat- eat ed td so 10 many times by so many thousands thou thou- lands sands of school children should have teen been written by a member of the editorial staff stair of the publication which bleb for so many years was Young Americas America's favorite magazine the magazine the Youths Youth Companion Francis M. M Bellamy was his name and at the tine time of ot his death on August 23 28 1931 1031 the th memory of his greatest claim to distinction was revived b h by his widow who gave en an interesting Interest Interest- Ing lag account of the origin of the pledge A little group of men who In 1801 1891 believed telle the flame of patriotism was dying out because of momentous developments de de- In Industrial and political pout ical Ira circles sought to fan fad the spark apart Into new life me she explained This effort resulted In President Benjamin Harrison proclaiming October October Oc Oc- tober 12 1892 as the first nation national holiday in honor of the discovery of America Delegated to write a proclamation as part of the original inal 1041 ceremony Bellamy produced a word 27 pledge that stood the test of ot time Chief among the leaders of the movement said Mrs Bellamy Della my were onre President Harrison James B. B publisher William T. T Harris Bar Har vie ris federal commissioner of education education tion Uon and Mr Bellamy a member of It the editorial staff stair of the Youths Youth's Companion Mr air Upham conceived the Idea of ot t I revival of patriotism at a time when then material things occupied the attention mention of most people Ills his first plan was to place an American flag over every schoolhouse As a remit re re- snit mit flags waved on as many school buildings Then the suggestion was adopted adopt- adopt ed td for tor a national holiday hollday Committees Committees Committees Com Com- were formed public men were ere Interviewed This handful of wn men virtually consecrated their toes Hies to the task of obtaining governmental governmental governmental gov gov- recognition of ot Columbus day da Mr Bellamy saw congressmen senators and others In the public eye ere I He lie Interviewed Inter President Harrison Garrison and Grover Cleveland among others Afterwards he aroused Interest among congre congressmen by Inducing them to give Interviews endorsing r c 1 WOODROW WILSON the irion project to newspapers P It i. i Souse bouse long lono D before cf senate and In lag the pass passed PresIdent a Joint resolution claim the fc authority to proclaim pro- pro hOliday Uday with standard In public schools At At last everything S was wu comPleted completed com- com except Pt the opening UOn lion Th The Mr hr secretary tary of state tate asked ID tiny nn y to do that that- Mr Mr- nell Bell latt r r Ur Upham but the ears hours refused cd- cd After many long band bad oer O the draft my husband hue hus- produced the pledge that has unchanged And since then a AI All Ter that's 8 all all she concluded included health seam except was that that Mr air nella Bellamy's my 10 Imperiled l In his work er er America years after atter aft aft- landed A tt M A s ta lv tt a of It Although the the UnIted States Is II one youngest members in the sis- sis of nations of ot the world her flag 18 s one of the oldest In the world Aside from the swallow swallow- tailed Savoy colors of Denmark adopted In 1210 1219 and the flag of Switzerland which dates from the Seventeenth century history records records records re re- cords no national flag with a longer continuous life Ute than ours When hen the Second Continental congress congress on June 14 1777 1171 adopted a resolution which read Resolved That the flag of the United States be thirteen stripes alternate red and white that the union be thIrteen thirteen thirteen thir thIr- teen stars stare white In a blue bine field representing a new constellation the French Trench trl-color trl had not yet come Into existence The present British flag dates only from 1801 Germany changed Its flag after the fall of the empire In 1018 HilS but even the flag used during the World war was less lesl than 50 CO years old lei Rua lea laa ilia III e Ita b The American flag has three symbolic names the names the Stars and Stripes the Star-Spangled Star Banner and Old Glory The name Stars and Stripes dates of course from Us its very beginning beginning be be- ginning and Is based upon the description descrIption de de- of the banner In the flag resolution of June 14 1777 The St Spangled Star Danner Banner dates from the War of 1812 Orators may many have called our lag flag by hy that name before that time but It remained for Francis Scott Key a young Maryland lawyer lawer who was detained on a British warship during the bombardment of Fort McHenry on the night of September 12 1814 1 and who saw by the dawns dawn's early light of September 13 that our flag lIag was still there to express his joy In a poem which was later inter set setto setto setto to music and which took the country country country coun coun- try by storm The name Old Glory dates from 1831 On August 10 of that year yeara a crowd had gathered at the wharves of Salem Mass to witness witness wit wit- ness the departure of the brig Charles Daggett which was about to set out on a world the cruise Master of ot the Charles Daggett Daggett Dag Dag- gett was Capt William Driver noted for his sturdy Americanism and his deep love for lor his country's flag So his neighbors had brought him a fine American flag to be hoisted to the masthead of the brig When the new banner had been run up In Its Ita place and rippled rippled rippled rip rip- pled In the breeze In all Its beauty of red and white and blue Captain Captain Captain Cap Cap- tain Driver looking aloft had a sudden Inspiration Ill call her herOld herOld herOld Old Glory boys Old Glory I And thus was another symbolical name for our flag born M III to Ita pa Ja a Ra IQ Lx a Flag day has been the Inspiration for a number of memorable tributes to our national banner In a Flag day address during the World war President Wilson said This flag which we we honor and under which we we serve Is the emblem of our unit unity our power our thought and purpose as a nation It Is fitting that we celebrate the day of Its birth and from Its birth until math until un un- til th now It has witnessed a great history has floated on high the symbol of great events of a great plan of life worked out by a great people On Flag day In 1014 IDU Franklin K Lane secretary of or the Interior In President Wilsons Wilson's cabinet speaking before employees of his department delivered ered a eulogy which has become something of a classic In the literature of 01 the flag It Is the following THE MAKERS OF THE FLAG This morning as I passed Into the land office the flag dropp dropped me a most cordial salutation and from Its rippling folds I It say Good morning Mr Ir Flag Maker I beg your pardon Old oM Glory I said arent you mistaken I am amnot amnot amnot not the President of the United States nor a member of ot congress nor even enn a general In the army I Iam Iam Iam clerk am only a government go I greet you again Mr r. r Flag Maker replied the gay voice I the man know you well You tou are who worked In the swelter of yesterday yesterday yesterday yes yes- straightening out the tangle of that flint farmers farmer's homestead In found the he Idaho or perhaps you OU In mistake In that Indian contract Oklahoma or helped to clear that In patent for the hopeful Inventor In New York or pushed the opening of that new ditch In Colorado or made that mine in Illinois more relief to the old brought safe sale or soldier In Wyoming No matter whichever one of these beneficent Individuals you may happen harpen to be 3 J JI was wasI I give you OU greeting Mr Flag Maker I was about to pass on when the flag stopped me with these words Yesterday the President spoke a word that made mode happier the future future future fu fu- ture of peons leons In to Mexico but that act looms no larger on th the flag than the struggle which the boy In Georgia Is la making to win the corn club prize this summer Yesterday we made a new law to prevent financial panics and yesterday yesterday yes yes- maybe a school teacher In Ohio taught his first letters to a Z f. f V JA FRANCIS SCOTT KEY boy who will one day write a song long that will give cheer to the millions of our race We are all making the flag But Dut I said Impatiently these people were only working I IThen IThen IThen Then came a great shout from the flag The work that we do Is the makIng making ranking mak rank ing of the flag I am riot the flag not at alt all I Iam Iam Iam am but Its shadow I am whatever you make me nothing more I am your belief In yourself your dream of what a people may become Sometimes I am strong with pride when men do an honest work fitting the rails together truly Sometimes I then purpose purpose pur pur- pose has gone from me and cynically cynically cynically cally I play the coward Sometimes I am loud garish and full of that ego that blasts Judgment But Dut always alwa's I am all that you hope to be and have the courage to try forI forI for I am the Constitution and the courts statutes and the statute statute- makers soldier and dray drayman man and street sweep cook counselor and clerk I am the battle of yesterday and the mistake of tomorrow I am the mystery of the men who do without knowing why I am am the clutch of an Idea and the reasoned purpose of resolution I am no more than titan what you believe believe be be- lieve me to be and I am non all that you yoo believe that I can beI beI beI be I am what you make me nothing nothIng noth noth- ing lag more I swing before your eyes as a abright abright abright bright gl gleam 2 m of color a symbol of yourself the pictured suggestion of that big thing which makes this nation My lily stars stare and my stripes are your dream and your labors They are bright with cheer brilliant brilliant brilliant bril bril- with courage firm with faith because you have made them so ao out of your our hearts for tor you are the makers of the flag and It tt Is well that you glory In the making ilia Ba im Li ISla Fla teat aaa R We owe our official celebration of Flag day to President Woodrow Wilson On May 13 1910 he Issued Issued Issued Is Is- sued a proclamation designating June 14 of each year as Flag Ilag day and It line has been so observed ed since that time As AI for the honor of being the originator of Fla Flag day It would be dl difficult to award that title to toaDY any aDY one pe person son since several le AmerIcans Americans Americans Amer Amer- contributed to the idea One ODe of them Is la a woman Mrs Irs Laura B. B widely known as the Mother Iother of Flag day During President Wilsons Wilson's administration she was editor of the Patriotic Instructor In In- In to New ew York and In that publication suggested setting aside June 14 as Flag day tier Her suggestion suggestion suggestion tion was forwarded by the Daughters Daughters Daugh Daugh- of the American Revolution In n New Kew York to the President resident and his proclamation of ot May lay 13 1010 1910 followed followed fol fol- lowed soon afterwards Another who seems to have a aJust ajust I just claim to the title of ot orIgins I I a IL i tor Is Benjamin of New NewYork York Under the title of Flag Day Man the New Yorker magazine In InUs Us its Issue of June Jun 14 1030 told his hll story as III follows If It the lady on your Jour left tires Urea of ot your m more more re p-onder p ponderous ul dinner topics j you ou might tell her about Benjamin Benjamin you might say lay Is responsible for Flag day did you Jou know th that t t To prove that you are not just trying to be funny you can give her the facts about Mr and how he thought up Flag day tiers Hera they are He lIe Is a real person alive and well and lives right In old New York Although eighty he can still get let about spryly No one In the world gets a greater thrill out of walking up Fifth Filth avenue on June 14 than he does After all he ht put those flags out there yours there yours and mine and Lord dr Taylors Taylor's and everybody every every- body else Mr thought of setting aside aalde a special day for the Spangled Banner Danner back In 1910 1010 He ne was on ona ona a visit lilt to San Antonio and he watched with sparkling eyes eye theft the tha retreat flag ft retreat ceremony at Fort Sam Houston one afternoon It Impressed Impressed Impressed Im Im- pressed him mightily He lIe was about sixty then and a great patriot patriot pa pa- triot In a quiet way a lover of the flag of the Betsy Ross ROil tradition tradition tion of the United States of America Amer ica lea generally oddly enough he Willborn was Will born In n Germany He lIe came to America as a young man tuna plunged Into banking and brokerage out In St St. Louis Louls and In Inno Inno Inno no time made millions of dollars Ills His gratitude for lor the quick success that he a foreign-born foreign Jew had In Ina Ina ina a strange country took the form torm of philanthropy and patriotism patriotism- lIe gave to hospitals founded libraries aided government projects financed charities led oft off campaigns for tor the relief of f victims of fire flood war and unemployment Always In his mind however there lurked a desire desire desire de de- sire to do something for America In la a big way The Incident at San Antonio was his Inspiration A great reader of our history he be knew or If he didn't he looked It up that June 14 was wa the day on which congress accepted Betsy Ross Boss flag Then with the same ame spirit and gusto that had put over charitable campaigns he started his bis drive to Interest the nation In Its flag lIe He began on St Louis LOul lie He promised to give a fine flag to any Institution which would formally formally for tor mally observe e Flag day on the fourteenth four four- The Second Presbyterian church of at St. St Louis was WILlI the first to respond respond respond-In In 1011 Other ather churches synagogues and schools fell tell In r r. r a an k n r i I FRANCIS M. M BELLAMY I line Mr Altheimer soon loon had to go Into the purchasing flag-purchasing and presenting presenting pre pre- business on a big scale with secretaries and others helping him to meet the demand Since he was retired from banking he could give all of his bis time to It In 1012 1912 St. St Louis Loula as a municipality celebrated Flag day Flags were everywhere AU All traffic stopped for a full tull minute minute min min- minute ute at a given riven time Mr Ir Altheimer was happy lIe He was happier yet when In 1017 1917 he got to President resident Wilson in person and Flag day was made a national occasion In 1027 1927 anniversary annl anni the one hundred of ot the adoption of the flag the United States Flag association Invited Mr along with Lindbergh to attend Its Ita celebration In Washington ton lie He couldn't couldn go because of illness but the association association tion sent him a cross of honor and anda a citation signed by Coolidge for tor planted the true appreciation tion of the flag In the hearts of the American people O C by Nm r Val Colon |