DAR hears Flag Day program
Published 2:02 pm Wednesday, June 16, 2004
By By MARCIA STEFFENS / Dowagiac Daily News
CASSOPOLIS -- James Bolinger hated to disappoint the women at the Capt. Samuel Felt Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) meeting Monday at Cass District Library, but, he said, there is no proof Betsy Ross ever sewed a flag with a circle of 13 white stars on a blue field, with 13 red and white stripes.
Bolinger, from Flags International in Osceola, Ind. presented the "History of the U.S. Flag," holding up examples showing how the flag developed with a history dating back to the 13th century and the St. George's Cross, which was a simple white flag with crossing red stripes through the centers.
That flag was England's own in the year 1277.
The 14th century Scottish flag, the Cross of St. Andrew, with diagonal stripes of white on a blue background, would also become a part of a future flag in the new world.
In 1775, when the first Continental Congress met and George Washington's troops needed a flag, the one developed would symbolize the colonies joined together in their freedom fight.
The one developed by the Sons of Liberty was a balance between the loyalists to the king and Great Britain, Bolinger said, and to those in opposition. The red and white stripes were used, along with the combined crosses on the left side.
The "Betsy Ross" flag followed with a circle of 13 stars, which he said was attributed to the flag maker's sewing ability only 100 years later when her grandson declared she had made the first one.
In 1777, the stars were sometimes set in random patterns, but the stripes remain at the number 13. When two more states joined the Union, two more stars and two more stripes were added.
On Sept. 14, 1814 the war ended and the "Star-Spangled Banner" waved.
In 1818, five more states and the fear of the cost of continuing to add stars and stripes, led to the decision to go back to 13 stripes representing the original colonies, and one star per state.
Bolinger told the women the DAR was actually instrumental in writing and developing the first flag code in 1923. It wasn't adopted until 1942, though, with very few changes since.
Bolinger also showed the flag now flown on our war ships, with a red and yellow snake and the words, "Don't tread on me." History has this "Navy jack" flying in the 1700s, but Bolinger added, there is no evidence this was more than a fictitious flag, possibly the product of an artist's addition to a painting.
This present time of morning a former president of the United States and the flag at half mast for 30 days presents an unusual occurrence. The flag will actually be at half mast over the Fourth of July.
Bolinger showed black streamers of morning which can be put above the flag when it is unable to be lowered. These are usually the same width as the stripes in the flag, he added.
Another point he mentioned is never to "dip" the flag below a 45 degree angle, if hanging from our porch.
Other days when the flag is flown half mast include May 15, Peace Officers Memorial Day; July 27, Korean War veteran's Day; Sept. 11, Patriot Day; and Dec. 7, Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. Also on the last Monday in May, Memorial Day, the flag is to be at half staff until noon.
Bolinger and his wife Cathy purchased the business which is housed in a "castle" in Osceola, Ind. four and a half years ago. Business boomed after Sept. 11th and another surge of business occurred after Reagan's death.