Show A ONE MAN FLAG THE presidents host folk know now of some of the perquisites qui sites that dial aill accrue to the next nest president of the united states such as a band which Is at his disposal the marine band and the white house conservatories conserva tories which provide the first lady of the land with flo flowers Ners but it is not so generally known that one of the honors bestowed upon the chief executive is a special flag this lag flag Is not seen frequently it does not float over the white house its use is reserved for the most part for occasions when tile the president appears in his ex es officio capacity as commander in chief of the army and the navy the presidents hag flag consists of the coat of ainis aims as they appear on the presidents seal against a blue background and flanked by four stars its history and use are described in the monograph on flags of the world of the national geographic society as I 1 follows foll aws when the president visits a vessel of the united states tile the presidents flag is broken at the he main the 1 moment he reaches tile the deck and I 1 Is s kept lying flying as long on as lie is on board if tile the vessel can do so a national salute of 21 puns guns Is fired as soon son as possible after his arrival on board upon departure another nn ollier salute of 21 guns is fired the presidents flag being lowered with alth the last gun gua of tile lie salute when the president Is embarked in a boat he usually directs that his hag flag be displayed from the staff in the bow of his barge bliele when he passes in a boat flying his flag vessels of 0 tle navy parade the full guard tour four ruffles are given inen on oil the drum four flourishes are sounded on the bugle the alie national anthero Is played by the band and officers and men salute when the president Is embarked in a ship flying his flag all saluting ships on meeting her at sea or elsewhere and all naval batteries fire a national salute on passing previous to the present order there were two designs displayed on flags and on oil colors to be used in the presence of the commander in chief of tile the army and the navy the navy design was of an earlier date than that of the army and consisted of the coat of arms of the united states as shown in the great seal upon a blue ground this happened to ile be almost identical with the infantry colors the presidents colors were designed to be distinctive from the infantry colors and consisted of a blue ground with a large crimson star outlined heavily with white within the star was to he be seen the coat of arms of all the united states and outside the star within its angles were nvere powdered small stars to the number of states in tho union |