06/08/1939
Flags fluttered from building, and sidewalks today and flag-decorated-posters proclaimed the beginning of National Flag Week, a movement initiated to revive respect for the colors.
E. H. Will, general chairman of the Flag Week committee for El Paso, was making arrangements to have speakers at service clubs and other gatherings to speak on the "Stars and Stripes."
How it Started
A kindergarten school professor in New York City conceived the idea that there should be a celebration of the -anniversary of the adoption of the American flag, Baxter Polk, College of Mines Librarian, told members, of the 20-30 Club at their luncheon at Hotel Cortez.
"His school held a flag day celebration June 14, 1889," he said, "the anniversary of the day- the Continental Congress adapted a resolution fixing the flag of the 13 United States as 13 stars and 13 stripes.
Idea Spread
"From there it spread to other schools in New York City and to other parts of the nation."
Mr. Polk described America as it appears to the immigrant and the American traveler and the America of the Constitution.
"America and everything America does is a protest against the way of life in other parts of the world," he said. "Americans have faith in one ideal, the democratic point of view, and they do not wish that faith to be shaken."
Jackson Speaker
Roy Jackson told members of the Rotary Club that American citizens should show more appreciation of their heritage. He said parents leave to teachers the instilling of patriotism in children while it should be done in the home.
"It is regrettable," he said, "that so many of our citizens accept the good things of America without giving anything in return."
Mr. Will was planning sub-committees to handle Flag Week details.
The Chamber of Commerce News devoted its space to a discussion on "Where Is That Spirit of "76?"
Snap Out of It
"Come on—let's snap out of it," said the Chamber of Commerce article. "It looks like we need a re-birth of patriotism. Let's help engender a re-birth of our old spirit into America. We can make a start by entering into the spirit of Flag Week—June 8 to 14. America is doing her share toward preparedness today, due to conditions in Europe brought about by dictatorship and utter disregard for the rights of others. Let's each put our; foot down on those who seek to instill an influence of dissatisfaction into the American people, for only too true is the saying, 'Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.' "
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