European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 14, 1977, Darmstadt, Hesse Old glory tuesday june 14, 1977 the stars and stripes Page 11 born without fanfare the United states Flag has gathered stars and acclaim for 200 years editor s note the Sun an Dimpes officially became the Flag of the United Stateum Yean m of week Obj Ane 14, 1777. Stace Ibert hit town As the country it represents has associated press writer. The Stan and stripes became the first and Only official United states nag As a Bitof routine business before the Continental Congress on a muggy saturday morning two centuries ago. The new nation was facing grave prob lems in the Early summer of 1777. But As Congress gathered on june 14, the Agenda was filled with the nuts and bolts of governing a series of committee reports an resolutions to be voted up or Down. If there was any debate it was not for militia companies one Resolution appropriated Money to three militia captains for the use of their respective Independent an other approved Aid for new yorkers immediately distressed for want of Aletter from Amos Throop of Providence was referred to came the report of the Marine committee and items were approved Oneby one. The committee was empowered to dispose of its ships in the Delaware rive should the British succeed in their at tempts on said . John Roach was suspended until the Navy Board could look into allegation against his character. And capt. John Paul Jones was appointed commander of the Ranger. And tucked in among these naval resolutions without further elaboration was this item resolved that the Flag of the thir teen United states be thirteen stripes Al Ternate red and White that the Union be thirteen stars White in a Blue Field representing a new with its business concluded. Congress adjourned to 10 o clock on and with so Little ado the Dearest Symbol of the new american nation was bom. Description of Flag unchanged revisions scratched into the journal entry indicate there must have been som discussion but the changes involved Only language style and not the Brief description of the Flag. Although Flag historians probably will quibble forever the Lack of detail in the Resolution and the absence of debate sup port other evidence that Congress was not thes european edition col. Billy s. Spangle. Usa. Elor-4lvcllm thl. New Wapnar if an Auto Wrend unofficial put Callon for Uvannah Forcari Ava Naai. To Slan and sir Pat it put Linda in conjunction or fun a Armad format information program of Ina a apartment of tha Start and ill Pat Ara not Naca itally Krol Tea . Gov Armant. Tea Japan Nail of Tea . European command. Tea appear Ancal it Navy Wapnar a Wop la 1snot Loftt Titus a �mioort4hpo by to m tens including to Milf try . We Lury Swiss is sssssvnjtk&sxisvs&sxgk2rs& Clau Pott a paid Al Nav Rort. N. Y. News bureaus is Siy is Fly a k.lssl.u1sr&arm. Floyd ,. Sync. Building Al. William 0. Oarth Cairn Moarn org military or Nuar Darg Civ 77joii . Gary harm. Raf my Lonnall. Co . Sporo Fulca. Apo Tom. U iiui1 Art Jim a Mim Annall 7i1ij.a. N . . John Hart. Oast a. A Panagon. Room 2e7ia. Was Nigton Mot. Tal. Umi a Tim. Circulation offices v Barlin civilian lilt to. Mil ii Brumar. V �i7jlotorr.on air 8ah Mil 7546. I Civ ruin. Unload kingdom Granham common Civ 447h. Military us to. M. Creating a new Flag but formally adopting one. The Marine committee report approved so matter of tartly that Day was largely a technical necessity. Americans had Bee fighting under various banners since their War with England had begun More than two years earlier but none had been of fid ally Lack of an official Flag at their masts backed by a government had been especially troublesome for the Young Navy. Without one american ships were by International Law no better than pirates. The Resolution of june 14, 1777, the Date no celebrated As Flag Day made them legit if any in Congress at the adoption of the Flag realized that in time it would Leone of the oldest and proudest National standards in the world. Only the flags of half dozen other countries predate the stars and the country it represents the american Flag was the product of British roots and american invention. It can be traced Back at least As far As the City stat of Genoa which adopted St. George As its Patron Saint 1,000 years carried by crusaders English crusaders carried the legends Osl George Home with them from Italy and in 1350 he became the Patron Saint of eng land. They also brought Back his Banner a vivid red Cross on a White Field and i became England s first truly National Flag. In 1606, one year before the first successful English settlement in America was planted at Jamestown va., King James joined the English Cross of St. George with the St. Andrews Cross of his native Scot land a White Cross in the form of an x on a Blue Union Flag signifying the joining of the two kingdoms was carried in various forms to the new world by English settlers and flew Over them throughout the colonial period. One version called the red Ensign forts Brilliant Crimson Field with the Union in the upper left Comer was the British Flagon the sea and overseas possessions As Well As the army. Under it English regular Sand american militia marched shoulder to shoulder in a Century of colonial the americans rebelled against England in 177s, they simply adapted this familiar Flag to their own needs. They sewed six White stripes a traditional Markof rebellion Over the red Field. This created the effect of 13 stripes Al Ternate red and White which became the permanent foundation of the american Flag. The Union however remained in the Comer As a Token of continued respect for British origins despite the grievances which had led to grand Union Flag was never officially recognized by Congress but it was generally accepted As the first National american Flag. There is no record of who devised it or where or when but there is evidence that it was in use in late 1775.john Paul Jones claimed to have raised the first one Over the american Fleet in de Cember and George Washington hoisted it Over the Continental army outside bos Tonat the opening of 1776. Once Congress had declared american Independence however the grand Union with its Symbol of continued allegiance to Empire was no longer appropriate. Consequently some american some where came up with the idea of substituting a Field of White stars on a Blu background for the Union in the Comer. Descendants of a Philadelphia seam stress named Betsy Ross claim she sewed polish fair attracts 45 nations Warsaw a the 49lh International fair opened in Poznan Western Poland with nearly 4,000 firms from 45 countries participating. Largest exhibitors in the 10-Day fair this year Are the soviet Union Czechoslovakia East Germany West Germany Italy France Britain and the . The first stars and stripes from a design by George Washington a year before the Flag Resolution by scoff but there Are records proving Betsy did make flags for the there is More evidence that the stars and stripes was flying As Early As 1776 than the debunker can produce to the contrary. Congress Lack of specific instructions led to a multitude of designs once Ameri cans began to manufacture the new Flag Involute. Some like the current Flag had seven red stripes and six White but other Shad More White stripes. The version attributed to Betsy s Needle and George s pen had 13 stars in a Circle but the More popular Model had the Star aligned in rows just like the flags of today. Tradition says Betsy Ross gave us the five pointed Star because it was easier to Cut but some Early Flam had the Multi pointed stars of traditional heraldry. Some flags violated even Congress meager instructions and had stripes of red White and Blue such As the one which flew from Jones Bon homme Richard in his greatest first official american Flag with its 13 stars and 13 stripes continued to be the National Standard throughout the revolution. But when the Union in1791 and Kentucky in 1792, their stars did not sail in the Constellation of the states in ended so on Jan. 13, 1794, Congress include the new states and created one of Ameri Ca s most famous was this nag of is stars and is stripes which flew above old Ironsides during her great naval victories. And it was the Flag which survived the British bombard ment of fort me Henry in 1818 and inspired Francis Scott key to name it the Star spangled Banner and give the United states its future National soon other states were demanding recognition until one congressman complained that if they kept adding stripes. The tallest per to the forests of Maine will not be High enough to serve As a in 1818 Congress preserved the proportions of the Flag by returning to the original 13 stripes representing the founding states but each state As it joined the Union would have a new Flag bad 20 Start and additions were to come on the july 4 following the admission of each new Stato the Way it has been done Ever Flag received its most famous Nick name in 1824 from a Banner Given Driver of Salem mass., As a birth Day present. Seeing it unfurled above his ship Driver exclaimed old glory and the name stuck. By the civil War the Flag had grown to 34 stars under the new formula and they remained throughout the conflict. Including 11 for the seceded states of the Conedera when Teddy Roosevelt charged up Sanjuan hu1 in 1898, hit Flag had 45 stars. 48 stars by lilting 1912 it reached a historic Milestone when the admission of new Mexico an Arizona brought it to 48 stars. And the omissions of 1777 were at last corrected when president William Howard Taft issued an executive order spelling out forthe first time the official specifications for the 48-Star Flag flew Over America longer than any other. It is the one under which most american living today were born and under which the United states took its place As a world Leader. It was car ried by gis into world War i and world War ii and was the one raised by the marines on i to Jima a new Star was added for Alaska in 1959 and another for Hawaii a year later. As i flies today the Flag has the original 13 stripes seven red and six White and so White stars on a Blue Field in the Canton arranged in five rows of six stars each an four rows of five. Letters to the editor no Opportunity for education How Many times a Day do we Bear fro various propaganda sources about the great educational opportunities available in today s army out of my 32 months in service i Haven been Able to attend a single class due to continuous Field duty every term and the fact that Little of me is apparently imply if i was Able to take classes look at what s available. Unless one has completed High school or wants to be an Auto Mechanic or food service expert there s not much Choice. Especially if one has already completed the Basic educational requirements before enlisting and is majoring in another area. It seems i a forced to leave the army in order to use my benefits to finish still i m sitting in my tent huddled around the stove and being told to get Good education Start your College Educa Tion while serving your country and com plete your who Are they trying to kid i m fed Upland getting out spec. 5 Sandra Bowman Wiesbaden German editor s note Richard s. Koe Iset Usa eur director of general education Al development ged. Reduce one general goal of the Usa eur education program u to provide a wide Range of educational activities which Are Avail Able at All education centers. In most cases this has been accomplished. Another Usa eur objective 1s tallow ample Opportunity for each service member to participate in those programs that Are available. Reaching in per Centof this objective u More due Luck since some units Nave operational requirement which make u More difficult to attend scheduled passes. Yon should surely go through the Chain of command to get time to participate in a professional and personal development program. U unit requirement make to difficult to attend during the Day or work week the local education Center can help arrange for a More flexible schedule pos Sibly having classes la a concentrated period in the week Ems. Failing this test ing and correspondence courses an Avail Able through the defense activity for non Trad clonal education support Dantes. Your local Coo Selar or can Citron officer will and tyo in enrolling. You do not stole what you want to study. If you Are after rather Snead used courses at the upper division level you May be out of Lack. However the courses needed to Complete a Liberal arts degree Are available to most soldiers who Are otherwise Able and willing to participate. I suggest pm work dowdy with your commander and local education Center to both bad the time to participate and to develop the cause offerings a a need. Call the Usa eur director of ged at Keidd Berg Zul he ii you need hit
