The historians who have searched the archives of ancient and medieval
times tell us that this has been a symbol of liberty since the
Phrygians made the conquest of the eastern part of Asia Minor.
After the conquest they stamped it on their coins, and to distinguish
themselves from the primitive peoples they used the liberty cap as a
head dress. The Romans used a small red cap called a “pileus,” which
they placed on the head of a slave in making him free, and when Caesar
was murdered a Phrygian cap was carried through the streets of Rome
proclaiming the liberty of the people. The liberty cap of the English
is blue with a white border.
It remained for the United States to adopt the British cap, adding to
it the crescent of thirteen stars. Generals Lee and Schuyler, with the
Philadelphia Light Horse troop, adopted it in 1775. This is the famous
troop that escorted Washington to New York.
It is most familiar to us as seen on our coins, on which it was first
used after the Revolution as a symbol of freedom.
Edward Everett Hale, in one of his impressive orations, says: “The
starry banner speaks for itself; its mute eloquence needs no aid to
interpret its significance. Fidelity to the Union blazes from its
stars; allegiance to the government beneath which we live is wrapped in
its folds.”
The Stars and Stripes was officially first unfolded over Ft. Schuyler,
a military port in New York state, now the city of Rome, Oneida county.
It was first saluted on the sea by a foreign power, when floating from
the masthead of the Ranger, Capt. Paul Jones commanding, at Quiberon
Bay, France, February 14, 1778. The salute was given by Admiral La
Motte, representing the French government.
The first vessel over which the Union flag floated was the ship Ranger,
built at Portsmouth, New Hampshire, whose gallant commander was the
famous Paul Jones.
Its first trip around the world was on the ship Columbia, which left
Boston September 30, 1787, commanded by Captains Kendrick and Gray. It
was three years then in circling the globe. To-day it waves in every
clime, on every sea.
It is pleasing to note how Franklin, when minister to France, secured
the ship Doria from the French and gave to Paul Jones the command,
who immediately renamed the old ship “Bon homme Richard,” in honor of
Franklin.