Flags and Abraham Lincoln

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By James Breig

This year marks the midway point in recalling significant – and flag-related — anniversaries in American military history: the continuing bicentennial of the War of 1812, during which “The Star-Spangled Banner” was written, and the ongoing 70th anniversary of World War II, including the raising of the U.S. flag on Iwo Jima.

But precedence has to go to the sesquicentennial of the Civil War. Now halfway through the 150th anniversary of the War Between the States, we are moving toward two very significant moments that occurred in 1863: the Battle of Gettysburg in July and the Gettysburg Address in November.

Abraham Lincoln’s magnificent speech on the Pennsylvania battlefield is rightly ranked among the most significant addresses in history. It is known to every American and quoted worldwide. What is less known is how often Lincoln spoke about the U.S. flag.

On the day before his 52nd birthday in 1861, for example, while on a train journey to his first inauguration, Lincoln stopped in Lafayette, Indiana, to address the crowds who had turned out to see him.

Campaign banner for 1860 election of Lincoln and his running mate, Hannibal Hamlin

“Fellow citizens,” he said, “while some of us may differ in political opinions, still we are all united in one feeling for the Union. We all believe in the maintenance of the Union, of every star and every stripe of the glorious flag….Upon the union of the States, there shall be between us no difference.”

Five days later, in Dunkirk, New York, he spoke to thousands of people. A newspaper reported that “a triumphal arch was erected over the track,” while “fair ladies waved their handkerchiefs, and a platform around a flag staff, covered with velvet carpet, was prepared for Mr. Lincoln to speak from.”

The president-elect joked, “Were I to stop and make a speech at every station, I would not reach Washington until after the inauguration.” He then placed his rail-splitter’s grip around the flagpole beside him and solemnly declared, “Standing as I do, with my hand upon this staff and under the folds of the American flag, I ask you to stand by me so long as I stand by it.

James Breig is a veteran author who specializes in history. His most recent book is “Star-Spangled Baseball: True Tales of Flags and Fields” about the links between the sport and flags. He is also the author of a nonfiction book about WWII, "Searching for Sgt. Bailey: Saluting an Ordinary Soldier of World War II" and co-author of "The Mystery of the Multiple Mothers," a novel. All three are available at www.amazon.com. His articles have appeared in newspapers and national magazines, including the Colonial Williamsburg Journal (search for them at www.history.org/journal) and History Magazine. He has won many national awards for his opinion writing, media columns and feature articles.

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