Polk County Enterprise (Livingston, Tex.), Vol. 101, No. 48, Ed. 1 Sunday, June 12, 1983 Page: 21 of 28
twenty eight pages : ill. ; page 23 x 15 in. Digitized from 35 mm. microfilm.View a full description of this newspaper.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
Reduced
50% .
Happy
Anniversary
Moore
F«rniture & Upholstery
♦ •*» -* + k •*.■«» .* iAr .
THE POLK COUNTY ENTERPRISE, SUNDAY JUNE U, MW*AGE SB
Symbolism in Stars and Stripes ranges from states to constitution
From page 1C
became evident the new na-
tion would grow into a giant,
composed ofmany states. In
1818, Congress enacted a law
decreeing “...the flag of the
United States shall be thir-
teen horizontal stripes, alter-
nate red and white; a white
start to be added to the blue
field upon admission of each
new state.” The flag now has
50 stars, representing the 50
states, and 13 stripes,
representing the 13 original
colonies.
The Constitution
The flag is folded in a
triangle, symbolic that the
U.S. government is formed
in three inter-dependent
bodies: Executive,
Legislative and Judicial,
Phillips said. There are 13
folds, one for each original
colony. All are encased in
the blue field to remind each
that Americans “...are
under the love and care of
the Almighty God, and a free
and united Nation,” Phillips
said.
“We have a framework
here that resembles an old
fashioned curtain stretcher.
We have named it ‘The Con-
sitution,’ the framework
upon which these United
States rests. Since we
believe our flag is a symbol
of the principles set forth in
the Declaration of In-
dependence, the Consitution
of the United States and the
Bill of Rights, this is a
perfect foundation on which
to build our flag,” Phillips
said.
Flag formed
As Phillips gave the mean-
ing of each stripe, Clowers
and Pierce put the stripe in
place, from the bottom, on
the oversized wooden flag.
“The first stripe is red and
stands for valor, zeal and
loyalty. We have often prov-
ed we possess these qualities
in great abundance. This
first stripe represents
Delaware, the first colony to
ratify the Constitition,” she
said.
The second stripe, white,
sympolizes hope, purity and
integrity and the cleanliness
of a good life-“virtues we
place next to Godliness, so
the white goes above the
red.” The stripe represents
Pennsylvania.
The third stripe, red,
“reminds us that the name,
‘Old Glory,’ was first given
our flag by Capt. William
Driver of the brig, Charles
Doggett,” Phillips said. The
stripe represents the third
state, New Jersey.
The fourth colony to ratify
the Constitution was
Georgia. “As her stripe is fit-
ted into our pattern, let me
Disqualified?!
Photo by Grace Holman
Maimonides, in back, and Lilith, were momentarily taken
aback in learning their photograph doesn’t meet the SPCA
guideline-one cat (or dog) per photo-for the pet photo contest.
But, as is obvious, with typical feline aplomb, the two are un-
daunted. They’ll pose-separately-for a photograph. Deadline
for entries is Wednesday. They may be mailed to SPCA of Polk
County, P.O. Box 1403, Livingston, 77351, or given to any SPCA
member. Complete rules also are available at the Polk County
Enterprise and from SPCA members.
EXASpTATE
Optical®
Fashionable
$Sg§ft& Filled-
Lenses Duplicated
Hard & Soft
Contact Lenses
70S S. John Redditt Dr. Telephone
Lufkin. Tx. 7S901 632-1119
remind you that Old Glory
was first carried into battle
at Brandywine, Sept. 11,
1777,” Phillips said.
As the fifth stripe was
placed, Phillips told the au-
dience that Jan. 28,1778, the
American flag first flew over
foreign territory, at Nassau,
in the Bahamas. “With Con-
necticut in place, we recall it
was the French Admiral,
I^motte Pique, who gave
our flag its first foreign
salute, Feb. 12, 1778,”
Phillips noted.
The sixth stripe, the final
one to be fully visible,
represents Massachusetts,
and is the immediate sup-
port of the blue field, Phillips
said.
“Each of the remaining
seven stripes, beginning
with Massachusetts, are just
as long (as the lower
stripes), but part of each
stripe is covered by the Blue
Union,” she added.
As the blue field was plac-
ed in the upper lefthand cor-
ner, Phillips said the
blueness “reminds us to be
reverent to God, to seek
truth, fidelity and justice in
all our actions. The stars
proclaim a new Constella-
tion and remind us again
that we are ‘One Nation,
under God.’”
Additmnal stripes
The seranth state is
Maryland, Phillips said,
“very proud to have the Blue
Union cover a part of her
stripe of valor."
The eighth stripe,
representing South Carolina,
“symbolizes national in-
dependence and soverignty.
It is the flag of 200,10 million
free people, firmly united,”
Phillips said.
New Hampshire is the
ninth state, represented by
the ninth stripe, denoting
“from the farthest limits of
the American colonies, our ,
flag gave hope to all the peo-
ple that freedom would
never perish,” Phillips said.
She said the 10th stripe
“represents a cautious col-
ony that delayed the ratifica-
tion of the Consitution until
certain that the Bill of Rights
would be a part of that
guarantee of Liberty. Only
then did Virginia, the oldest
of the colonies, and often
referred to as the ‘Mother
State,’ ratify the Constitu-
tion.”
July 26, 1788, New York
became the 11th state, which
“truly symbolizes hope,
because it is here that most
of our immigrant citizens
first see the shores of their
new country, as they enter
New York Harbor, and all
gain hope from the Statue of
Liberty...standing at an open
door to welcome them,”
Phillips said.
North Carolina ratified the
Constitution Nov. 21, 1789,
and joined her neighbors in
the new Union. With place-
ment of her stripe, the flag
was nearly completed.
“Finally, in 1790 proud lit-
tle Rhode Island took her
place in the Union and we
place the 13th stripe at the
top of our flag for her,”
Phillips said.
Phillips told the audience
the first stripe is always red,
whether beginning at the top
or bottom of the flag.
"Perhaps this means that
the hope and purity of the
white and the reverence and
loyalty of the blue are held
steadfast, securely bound by
our valor, zeal and fervency,
represented by the red. As a
nation, we have these
qualities as we will,
whenever necessary, use
them to! protect pur
American way of life.”
Stars placed
As the stars were placed,
Phillips repeated the dates
of ratification, noting the
flag was known as the Betsy
OUTHEAST
EXAS___
AVINGS and Loan Association
Serving all of Southeast Texas
All accounts insured
to$100,000
Southeast Texas Savings
& Loan Association Federal Savingg 4 lv0an insurance Corporation
Federal Home Loan Bank System
G01 w Church United States Savings A Loan League
Uvlngston, Texas Texas Savings A Loan League
400 W. Bluff, Woodv/ille. Supervised by:
Branches In Kountie 6 Livinoston :<27 37«1 Texas State Savings A Loan Department
Federal Home Loan Bank Board
Ross F lag.
“It took the colonies over
two years to ratify the Con-
stitution. But remember,
that the lines of communica-
tion were much slower then
than now. In those days, it
took a letter four days to go
from Washington to New
York. The Postal Service
tells us that today it can be
delivered in less tnan four
hours,” Phillips said. (A
skeptical audience laughed
at the USPS claim, t
She said 29 months were
required to acquaint the 13
colonies with the terms of
the Constitution and obtain
their ratification. “With
modern means of com-
munication, this could have
been accomplished in a few
days-or a few weeks at
most,” she said.
As the 13-star field was
replaced with the 50-star
field, Phillips gave the roll
call of the remaining 37
states by date: Vermont,
1791; Kentucky, 1792; Ten-
nessee, 1796; Ohio, 1803;
Louisiana, 1812; Indiana,
1816; Mississippi, 1817; Il-
linois, 1818; Alabama, 1819;
Maine, 1820; Missouri, 1821;
Arkansas, 1836; Michigan,
1837; Florida, 1845; Texas,
1845; Iowa, 1846; Wisconsin,
1848; California, 1850; Min-
nesota, 1858; Oregon, 1859;
Kansas, 1861; West Virginia,
1863; Nevada, 1864;
Nebraska, 1867; Colorado,
1876; North Dakota 1889;
South Dakota, 1889; Mon-
tana, 1889; Washington,
1889; Idaho, 1890; Wyoming,
1890; Utah, 1896; Oklahoma,
1907; New Mexico, 1912,
Arizona, 1912; Alaska, 1959;
and Hawaii, 1959.
Flag’s message
Behold! the Stars and
Stripes of the United States
of America!!
I am NOT just a colorful
piece of cloth. I am a symbol
of all this Country stands for,
and not just a piece of cloth
to be spat upon by people
with contempt in their hearts
for a symbol that represents
no contempt at all.
I am NOT just a piece of
cloth to be tramped in the
dust. Young men and women
have courageously tramped
through dust, jungle and
mine fields to defend me. I
am NOT just a piece of cloth
to be desecrated, and tar-
nished by those who say they
are right and our leaders are
wrong and who claim God is
dead. I am your banner that
your young people are
taught to honor, respect and
preserve. My beautifully col-
ored folds are NOT just a
piece of cloth, to be ridiculed
and burned at demonstra-
tions. I hold more hope for
the people of this world than
any other national honor.
How can anyone say I am
JUST A PIECE OF CLOTH'*
I am your Flag - the fiber of
which has attracted im-
migrants, like your
forefathers, to this land of
opportunity. I stand for free
elections, free speech and
free choice of occupation and
religion. I represent a way of
life that freedom-loving peo-
ple around the world look to
for hope. Just a piece of cloth
could never survive all I
have been through.
I feel very much at home
with the Veterans of Foreign
Wars and its Auxiliary.
When you pay tribute to Me,
I know you are remembering
the 33-million combat
veterans who fought under
these Stars and Stripes, and
in reality, you are saluting
them - not Me.
These brave young people
who served in our armed
forces represented all racial
origins and all creeds. Yet
they fought as a TEAM. To
Them, all that mattered-
they were Americans. In no
other Nation are the people
so diverse, yet so thoroughly
united in upholding a single
standard of FREEDOM and
JUSTICE FOR ALL. I
know...because I have gone
with your armed forces
around the world.
More than a million
sacrificed their lives on the
field of battle. Some of you
saw them die. You wrapped
their mortal remains-not in
just a piece of cloth-You en-
cased them in My Stars and
Stripes, a token of respect
for their courage and
sacrifice.
Today, the remains of your
honored dead rest in the soil
of most every country on
earth: and above them,
today-in so many places the
sun shines forever upon Me-
there flies but ONE
FI^G. not just a piece of
cloth-but the Stars and
Stripes of the United States
of America. Your Flag is
proud to keep this vigil for
you.
I>ook at Me!! Do you see
just a piece of doth?
Then listen to this, I beg
you:
"I am the Star Spangled
Banner conceived in 1777 out
of love America bore for
Liberty and Honor.
I am the memorial of
countless heroes who shed
their blood to preserve this
sacred heritage.
I have inspired genera-
tions of gallant men who
fought against tyranny.
I am the spirit of Valley
Forge...of sacrifice...of
courage.
I have guarded every ram-
part where freedom defend-
ed its glorious cause...
Tripoli. Belleau
Woods...Argonne
Forest...Omaha Beach...An-
zio...Bastogne...
Quadalcanal. ..Coral
Sea ...Layte Gulf...Iwo
Jima ...Korea...Viet Nam.
I fly wherever Americans
gave their lives to preserve
the sanctity of life.
My home is in the hearts of
all who feel a thrill of pride
when they salute Me... and
what I symbolize:
GOD, COUNTRY,
FREEDOM, VALOR.”
Just a piece of cloth? I
think not.
I am the Flag of the United
States of America - Your
Star Spangled Banner.
Today's flag
ENTERPRISE PHOTO
Today’s 50-star, 13-stripe flag was assembled by Linda
Clowers, left, and Flo Pierce as Myrtle Phillips, at podium,
related the American Flag's history and symbolism for the
VFW and Auxiliary. The program is available, through the
VFW Auxiliary , lor presentation at schools and organizations
meetings. The presentation ends with a poem, in which the flag
itself gives its meaning.
* °ir 5th
3 Miles S.
Highway 146 S.
327-4153
Livingston, Toxasl
We THANK our customers for their business and are
LOOKING FORWARD TO SERVING YOU IN THE FI
TURE
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Newspaper.
White, Barbara. Polk County Enterprise (Livingston, Tex.), Vol. 101, No. 48, Ed. 1 Sunday, June 12, 1983, newspaper, June 12, 1983; Livingston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth790957/m1/21/: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Livingston Municipal Library.