Fraternity-Testvériség, 1965 (43. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1965-05-01 / 5. szám
4 FRATERNITY flag, On that date the Continental Congress resolved that the stripes be retained but that the “union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation”. America had become the land of Americans; and Americans had put themselves, by state, in'.o their flag. When two stripes and two stars were added for the new statehood of Vermont and Kentucky, the Star Spangled Banner was born. “Proudly it waved”, inspiring Francis Scott Key to compose our national anthem. It was carried “to the shores of Tripoli”, where it became the first American flag to fly above a foreign fortress. Its “broad stripes and bright stars” flew above the Battle of Lake Erie and the Battle of New Orleans. By 1818 Congress realized that adding a new stripe for each state would soon narrow those “broad stripes” and destroy the design of the flag, so it returned the stripes to their original thirteen and decreed that only a star be added for each new state. Stars were indeed added, and Fourth of July speeches increased in number as well as in length. Finally, in 1885, a 19- year-old school teacher who was later to become Dean of the Illinois School of Dentistry, held a brief patriotic flag-raising in the Fredonia, Wisconsin, schoolyard. As he conducted the solemn ceremony, hoping to teach his pupils the honor due the Flag of their country, it occurred to him that all Americans should take part in similar ceremonies — that all Americans should take time out to consider the meaning of their Flag. He. undertook to bring this about. Thirty-one years later, in 1916, Dr. Bernard J. Cigrand’s efforts were rewarded as President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed June 14th National Flag Day. Fraternalists, through the National Fraternal Flag Day Foundation, have kept alive the memory of Dr. Cigrand and his devotion to the American Flag. The Foundation has purchased the little schoolhouse at Fredonia, Wisconsin — now a national shrine. Each year, on June 14, National Flag Day, a salute of honor is given the American Flag and the memory of Dr. Bernard Cigrand, v/ho is credited with being the “father” of Flag Day. “Old Glory” held a special meaning for Dr. Cigrand, just as it holds a special meaning for all loyal, patriotic and proud Americans. National Flag Day offers opportunity for you to display your patriotism by displaying your Flag. (News Release — Nat’l Fraternal Congress of America)
