Posted on 06/14/2006 6:47:55 PM PDT by SandRat
FORT HUACHUCA — Soldiers are guardians of two special flags — the American and the Army banners.
More than two centuries ago today, the Continental Congress adopted two resolutions on June 14, one in 1775 and the other two years later. The first established an Army. The second gave them a flag to fight under. For Spc. Richard Edminson, a member of the fort’s honor guard, the Army flag represents the need for a service to ensure democracy is protected.
“It represents our freedom,” the soldier said.
From the top of the flag, campaign streamers honoring battles from the Revolutionary War to action in Kosovo hang.
On Thursday, three more streamers will be added to the Army flag, bringing the total number to 178, according to the Army Times. The streamers will be for Afghanistan, the global war on terrorism and Iraq.
The streamers are the history of the Army, Edminson said.
In 1775, Congress adopted a resolution that stated: “Be it resolved that six companies of expert riflemen be immediately raised in Pennsylvania, two in Maryland, and two in Virginia. That each company consist of a captain, three lieutenants, four sergeants, four corporals, a drummer or a trumpeter, and 68 privates.”
The resolution also fixed the amount of monthly pay with captains receiving $20, lieutenants $13.50, sergeants $8, the musicians $7.50 and privates “six and two-third dollars.”
On its 231st birthday, there are many more soldiers serving in today’s Army — active duty, National Guard and Reserves.
Almost a year later, the Continental Congress declared independence on July 4, 1776.
In 1777, Congress adopted another resolution calling on the creation of an American flag, with 13 stripes, of alternating red and white and 13 stars on union of blue.
As the nation grew, more stripes and stars were added, until someone realized with each additional stripe the flag’s shape would become unwieldy. Congress resolved that only 13 stripes would be part of the flag and the addition of each new state would merit a star.
There is something special about the national emblem for Sgt. George Ward, another member of the fort’s honor guard.
The duty of a soldier is to defend the flag, which to Ward symbolizes the people of the United States.
All military members have been called upon to bleed and die for America throughout the nation’s history, he said.
“If something happens and I am called upon to lay down my life for it, I will,” Ward said.
Army and U.S. flags are bound by a special connection, something that happened when the Army was founded on June 14, 1775, and when the U.S. flag was created on June 14, 1777.
On Tuesday, honor guard members lowered a small American flag, something that is done every day of the year at the post’s Brown Parade Field.
Today, the Fort Huachuca Honor Guard will be raising a 22-foot-by-36-foot garrison American flag, which is only flown on holidays and special occasions.
June 14 is a special occasion for the Army and the nation.
SENIOR REPORTER Bill Hess can be reached at 515-4615 or by e-mail at bill.hess@svherald.com.
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Fort Huachuca Honor Guard member Spc. Shonta Smith helps to raise the garrison American flag as part of a practice run Tuesday in preparation for Flag Day, which is today. The 22-foot-by-36-foot national banner is only flown on holidays and special occasions. (By Mark Levy-Herald/Review) |
Day to salute Old Glory
Red, white and blue. A field of stars. Thirteen stripes.
All define the U.S. flag — our Old Glory. And it helps define us. When we see it, we know it represents freedom, independence, a republic, a great democracy. It’s a source of pride.
Today, in celebration of Flag Day and our national banner, we want to share the story of how the flag got the name Old Glory. We salute it today. “Old Glory”
The name “Old Glory” was first applied to the U.S. flag by a young sea captain who lived in Salem, Mass.
On his 21st birthday, March 17, 1824, Capt. William Driver was presented a beautiful flag by his mother and a group of local young ladies. Driver was delighted with the gift. He exclaimed, “I name her ‘Old Glory.’ ” Then Old Glory accompanied the captain on his many voyages.
Captain Driver quit the sea in 1837 and settled in Nashville, Tenn. On patriotic days, he displayed Old Glory proudly from a rope extending from his house to a tree across the street. After Tennessee seceded from the Union in 1861, Captain Driver hid Old Glory by sewing the flag inside a comforter. When Union soldiers entered Nashville on Feb. 25, 1862, Driver removed Old Glory from its hiding place, carried the flag to the state capitol building, and proudly raised it for all to see.
Shortly before his death, the old sea captain placed a small bundle into the arms of his daughter. He said to her, “Mary Jane, this is my ship flag, Old Glory. It has been my constant companion. I love it as a mother loves her child. Cherish it as I have cherished it.”
The flag remained as a precious heirloom in the Driver family until 1922. Then it was sent to the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., where it is carefully preserved under glass today.
Source: U.S. Department
of Veterans Affairs Web site
Evolution of the U.S. flag
The principal acts affecting the flag of the United States are the following:
— On June 14, 1777, in order to establish an official flag for the new nation, the Continental Congress passed the first Flag Act: “Resolved, That the flag of the United States be made of thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new Constellation.”
— Act of Jan. 13, 1794 — provided for 15 stripes and 15 stars after May 1795.
— Act of April 4, 1818 — provided for 13 stripes and one star for each state, to be added to the flag on the 4th of July following the admission of each new state, signed by President Monroe.
— Executive Order of President Taft dated June 24, 1912 — established proportions of the flag and provided for arrangement of the stars in six horizontal rows of eight each, a single point of each star to be upward.
— Executive Order of President Eisenhower dated Jan. 3, 1959 — provided for the arrangement of the stars in seven rows of seven stars each, staggered horizontally and vertically.
— Executive Order of President Eisenhower dated Aug. 21, 1959 — provided for the arrangement of the stars in nine rows of stars staggered horizon tally and eleven rows of stars staggered vertically.
Source: www.usflag.org
Notice this is not a quote. Good thing, the Specialist might have to drop and give us 20. The word, nor it's derivatives, such as democratic, is not in the Constitution. The word Republican does appear.(Art IV, Section 4.)
Fortunately the Specialist got it right.
“It represents our freedom,”
The word "Freedom" and the word "free" are in the Constitution as well. (Amendments I and II)
BTTT
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