| The following column appeared in The River Reporter on June 11, 1998. |
and may you in peace ever wave"
— George M. Cohan
By Bert S. Feldman
The Recusant Reporter
Thursday, June 11, 1998
We have a birthday coming up this Sunday, June 14. Our flag, also known as Old Glory, will be 221 years old!
She's had an exciting life. She has been abused, spat upon, and vilified, yet she still can set a heart beating with joy and love when she comes down the street.
Actually, she wasn't around too much during the American Revolution. The origins of our flag are a bit misty. There are so many myths and tall tales around that is difficult to separate the facts from the true story.
Many historians think that the first flag used by the fighters for liberty was the so-called "Great Union" flag, the flag of Great Britain in the upper corner with 13 red and white stripes. The flag that is known as the "Easton" flag is still on display in Easton, PA. This flag had 13 stripes in the canton (which is the rectangle in the upper left corner) and 13 stars in a circle on the blue field. At Bunker Hill the flag was blue, with a pine tree of green in a white canton.
Other flags in use were of many varieties: New Englanders liked a white flag showing a pine tree in the center, with the words "An Appeal to Heaven"; New Yorkers preferred a flag of 13 blue and red stripes, on which was embroidered a rattlesnake and the words "Don't Tread on Me." This flag, with a yellow background along with a rattler and motto, became the colors displayed by the fledgling navy. John Paul Jones fought under this flag quite successfully. There were many other flags.
On June 14, 1777, the Second Continental Congress offered a resolution, which read as follows:
"Resolved: that the flag of the United States be 13 stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be 13 stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation."
Note that there is no clue as to how the stars should be placed or how many points the stars should have, or even which direction the stripes should run. To this day, the flags flown on Coast Guard vessels bear vertical stripes.
Who designed this flag? Who was the designer of Old Glory? Francis Hopkinson is generally credited with designing the new national flag. Hopkinson in 1781 asked Congress to reimburse him for the work he had put in. They turned him down.
The story of Betsy Ross did not appear until 1870, when a grandson of hers reported on a family legend. It was never proven. However, it is possible that, as a well-known Philadelphia seamstress, she carried out Hopkinson's design. She also may the one who came up with the idea of a five-pointed star. My wife, who does quite a bit of sewing herself, has shown me that there is a way to fold a piece of paper, and, with one snip of the scissors, Lo and behold! a five-pointed star appears!
The first battle flag that we know was most likely run up a pole at the battle for Fort Stanwix, today's Rome, NY. On August 3-22, 1777, the fort was besieged by a combined force of Mohawks and Loyalists. According to New York historian Walter Edmunds, it is said that somehow a Philadelphia newspaper found its way to the frontier. Determined to fly the new flag, they began looking for the proper materials. A Dutch patroon officer volunteered his blue velvet cape. Not to be outdone, a huge German blacksmith gave up his nightshirt. Finding red was a problem. Finally, the story goes, an Irish prostitute offered her flannel petticoat, the first time, Edmunds says, when it was taken off in a good cause. Only in America!
As regards General Washington, he did not receive the new flag until 1783, when the war was over. And there is no record as to which flag it was!
Imagine! Old Glory is 221 years old, and she is looking better than ever. As Henry H. Bennett (1863-1924) wrote:
"Hats Off!
Along the street there comes
A blare of bugles, a ruffle of drums,
Hats Off!
A flash of color beneath the sky;
The flag is passing by."
