SEASONS - FLAG DAY - REMEMBERING BETSY ROSS

(Written by Sheila Gail Landgraf)

June 14, 2016  is Flag Day.  So what does that mean to us? 

Do we Americans really know anything at all about the history of our flag? 

You know, we didn’t always have “Old Glory.”  In 1775 American ships in New England waters flew a flag with a green Pine Tree on a white background with an inscription that read “An Appeal To Heaven.” 

The Continental Navy had a red and white striped flag with a snake in the middle that said “Don’t tread on me.” 

There were many other flags being flaunted by many different groups.  The Sons of Liberty flew a red and white striped flag.  The New England flag could be seen in certain area of the country, and it displayed a green pine tree in the upper left corner (this area of the flag is called the canton) with red white and blue stripes.  The Forster flag displayed six small white stripes for a canton on a solid red background.

In January of 1776 the grand union flag in Continental colors was displayed on Prospect Hill.  The British Union Jack was in the canton and there were 13 alternate red and white stripes.  It is said that George Washington, himself, replaced this flag with the one commissioned to Besty Ross at a later date.  Prospect Hill, dominated the road from Charlestown and had great strategic importance in the Revolutionary War.   This place was known as the "Citadel"  The castle there, dedicated in 1903, is a monument commemorating the fortifications on top of this hill.  A tablet inside reads:  "This tablet is erected in memory of the soldiers of the Revolution and of the Civil War who encamped on Prospect Hill and of the banners under which they valiantly fought."

Too many flags were being flown by the American colonies.  It was confusing and dividing.  There needed to be one flag that everyone could rally around which represented the hearts and souls of the people now living in America. By this time four generations of families had grown up in the new country. 

Betsy Ross was born in 1752 in Philadelphia.  Her maiden name was Elizabeth Griscom.   She was the great granddaughter of a carpenter who had arrived in New Jersey from England in 1680.  Betsy, as she later came to be called, was one of 17 children born to her Quaker parents.  She attended Quaker school with her sisters and became a very good seamstress.  When she turned 17 her father apprenticed her out to become an upholsterer.  It was while she was in school that she fell in love with another apprentice named John Ross.  He was NOT a Quaker and her parents and religion forbid her to marry him.  She defied them in 1772 choosing to give up her family and religious belief in John’s favor.  It was quite the scandal in Philadelphia.  The Quakers as well as her immediate family completely cut all ties to her. 

John and Betsy, working completely alone with no outside help from those who were shunning them, opened up an upholstery shop that became famous in the area.  The thing that set them apart was Betsy’s marvelous skills as a seamstress.   It was during this time that the State of Pennsylvania commissioned Betsy and John to make the flags for their naval ships.  Betsy designed what is now known as The American Flag.

In 1776 at the start of the American Revolution, John Ross was killed in a gunpowder explosion.  Betsy acquired his property and kept up the upholstery business.  She worked day and night to fill the demands of the shop for orders of flags for Pennsylvania. After a year of being a widow, Betsy remarried.  Her new husband named Joseph Ashburn was a sailor.   In 1781 the ship he was on was captured by the British and he died in prison soon after.  Once again Betsy was a widow. 

In 1783 Betsy was remarried to a man named John Claypoole.  John had been a friend of Joseph’s and they were in prison together when Joseph died.  John, having escaped, delivered the news of Joseph’s death and his last endearing words to Betsy and that is how the two became acquainted.  John had spoken with Joseph when he was dying.  His last words were of his love for Betsy.  Joseph asked him to deliver his final words to Betsy as a personal favor from a friend.  Betsy had a long and happy marriage to John Claypoole.  It lasted for 34 years. 

In 1817 after a long time of disability, John died, leaving Betsy a widow for the third time. Finally, at the age of 84 Betsy Ross died too,leaving behind more than the simple legacy of a seamstress.  50 years after her death her grandson shared the story of how she sewed the first American flag:.

As the story goes, while Betsy was married to John Ross they were visited by President George Washington.  His visit seemed to have inspired Betsy's thinking in the sewing of the flag in June of 1776.  Harper’s Monthly picked up on Betsy’s grandson’s speech about his grandmother’s life and published the story in 1873.  Everyone across the country of America at that time loved and read Harper's Monthly.  That is how Betsy Ross became famous for making the first American flag, many long years after her death. 

Due to the fact that this story is a legend without proper documentation, many nay-sayers have tried to discredit the life work of this brave and courageous woman named Betsy Ross by denying that the story is true.  Even if she had not sewn the flag, Betsy Ross's legacy would stand as a prime example of what American women have endured throughout our nation’s history.  She stands for the decency of faithful marriage between a man and a women.  She stands for brave widows in the country that have used their skills and talents to raise and care for their children in extraordinary, unique and exemplary ways.  She stands for personal integrity and self education in every aspect of daily life.  She stands for hard work in the midst of constantly changing circumstances.  Let the nay-sayers be silent about Mrs. Ross and give her the national identity she deserves for the symbol of her life’s work!  She has made us proud! 

The National Historic Park in Philadelphia summed up the contribution of our flag being sewn by Betsy Ross in this way:   “Betsy Ross sewed the first American flag. When we view the flag, we think of liberty, freedom, pride, and Betsy Ross. The American flag flies on the moon; sits atop Mount Everest, is hurling out in space. The flag is how America signs her name. It is no surprise that Betsy Ross has become one of the most cherished figures of American History.”

I can think of no greater way to describe the life of Betsy Ross and the contribution she made to America by giving us that beautiful flag we now call Old Glory.  We who are truly Americans at heart still display this flag in our homes and across the land. 

God bless America.  May she return to being faithful to The God who made her great; and may she return to the honor and glory that has long been represented by this flag that proclaims the liberty and freedom of one nation under God.