In Celebration of Flag Day, June 14

By Denice Spangler Adams

What does the American Flag mean to you? How do you react when viewing others burn it? What does our flag represent to the world?

After the Civil War, Flag Day was created to commemorate the adoption of the Stars and Stripes as the official flag of the United States by the Second Continental Congress on June 14, 1777.

Our Flag honors pivotal moments in the founding of our country, its national symbols from wartime patriotism in the 18th and 19th centuries into an annual observance in the 20th-21st centuries. It replaced the Union Jack, representing a constellation of a new nation, what we stand for, with the stars symbolizing unity between the states: 13 originally, 50 today.

The idea of observing the creation of the flag’s anniversary emerged during the Civil War to rally patriotic support for the Union. A century later, the Flag promoted patriotism and helped Americanize immigrant children. In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson issued a presidential proclamation designating June 14 as Flag Day. In 1949, Congress recognized it a day of observance. Today, it’s all but forgotten.

Our Family Flag’s History

My Great Grandfather George D. East was a 23-year-old laborer in Indiana when he answered the call to preserve the Union in September 1861. He served as an enlistee, then as Color Corporal in Company C of the 27th Indiana Volunteer Infantry, a role that placed him at the center of the battle line, responsible for the regiment’s Union Flag. His handwritten diary describes military life, leadership, and battles protecting the flag. Indiana’s 27th is stillremembered for several reasons including 1) tall enlistees referred to as ‘giants,’ and 2) discovering one of the most important intel documents in war history: General Robert ELee’s cigars wrapped in Lee’s battle plan for Antietam. The Union prevailed four days later due in part to Lee’s Lost Intel.

• The Battle of Antietam (1862): Marched the Colors into the bloodiest single day in American history. During the brutal fighting in the West Woods, East was severely wounded by a gunshot to his left thigh. Historical records confirm that he was celebrated by his peers for having “saved the flag” during the carnage of “losing all color guards killed or wounded with 128, a third killed in our small Regiment.”

• The Battle of Gettysburg (1863): Later, on July 3, while participating in the suicidal charge across Spangler’s Meadow against Culp’s Hill, he was struck in the right thigh by buckshot with balls at close-range during intense combat. Again celebrated for “saving the flag” as Color Corporal.

• General Sherman’s Campaign To Atlanta: Now surrounded by Confederates in enemy country, twice severely wounded, East was promoted, and placed on Guard Duty, where hard fighting pursued daily “until the City fell into our hands.” Later he helps historians document each battle; his lengthy diary a sketch of “the humble part I took in the War of the Rebellion.”

East’s war sacrifices at the front protecting the flag resulted in a lifelong commitment to the Union and to our flag. He famously required all his children and grandchildren to memorize and recite the Gettysburg Address at July 4th celebrations from Kansas to California. Flag protocols were taught.

After the war, East went from pioneer to politician as elected County Commissioner to Treasurer and Livery Stable owner until age 85.

His flag always proudly hung as his reminder of survival, sacrifice, honor, freedom, liberty, and opportunity for a boy with deceased parents and only $18.50 in his pocket who humbly served with valor.

Today, I know Greatpa East would be as sickened as I am to know that Eastside Santa Barbara elected DSA endorsed Council Rep Wendy Santamaria purposely shows up late to every City Council meeting in rejection of the American Flag and all it represents.

Why do her constituents hate America as represented by our flag? Why do some not respect and honor our American flag?

Community Calendar:

Got a Santa Barbara event for our community calendar? Fenkner@sbcurrent.com