 proudly we hail from New York City where the American stage begins here is another program with a cast of outstanding players public service time has been made available by this station for your army and your Air Force to bring you this story as proudly we hail our women in service our story is entitled a ring of stars this is the story of a woman who saw the beginning of our nation and dreamed of what it might become the story is a legend some say it never happened and maybe it never did but it could have happened and the legend has taken such a firm route in the cradle of our country that the woman of the legend will always live in our minds and hearts this is the story of the woman she was and of what might have happened to Betsy Ross our first act curtain will rise in just a moment but first a word to the young women of America have you heard about the excellent opportunities for advancement in the expanding women's Army Corps enterprising young women who can qualify are urged to enlist now you know every day more young women are finding out the full details about job openings in the women's Army Corps so why not visit your nearest United States Army and United States Air Force recruiting station have a talk with the recruiting sergeant he'll be glad to give you all the information volunteer for the whack today and now your Army and your Air Force present the proudly we hail production a ring of stars I saw a ring in the sky a shining white ring like the circle of eternity shining with the purity of love and honor all around it were flames of red and blue and I did not know what this great ring was but as I looked it became larger till I thought it must encircle the whole world it was a shining circle like a ring of stars and it looked as if it would remain unbroken forever I was a part of that shining circle unwillingly as a Quaker and a pacifist but like all who lived in the 13 colonies in 1776 I was caught up in the circle and forced to reflect its glory my name is Abel James James and drinker shippers Philadelphia but this is not my story it's the story of my little meets Betsy my favorite she was as I knew her and the world knew her before our country and our flag we're born you know her as Betsy Ross she was born Betsy Griscum to my sister Rebecca and her husband Samuel at their Quaker home in Philadelphia in 1752 I was often away from home sometimes with my ships sometimes traveling to Virginia and the Carolinas to buy tobacco for the old world so that I could bring in carcass of tea and sugar spices silks and woolens to the new but between trips I was a frequent visitor to my sister's home one Saturday in April 1762 I came up the stone walk of my sister's house Betsy and her little sister Rachel with some of the other children from their school and drinkers alley we're standing in a circle playing hunt the squirrel you know this game from your own childhood as drop the handkerchief they run around the circle now away from each other till they meet again and little Johnny bows to Betsy now he's it it must tap somebody else just now my dear child my ship is just landed are your mother and father home oh yes oh they'll be so glad to see you we just finished spring cleaning the house will welcome you to Rebecca welcome home a little Samuel you look well friend a successful trip I hope yes indeed I sold my cargo and brought back many fine materials soaps, rockades and woolen oh did you bring any quiet grays that would be fit a lady in the friend society oh yes of course especially for you Rebecca will you excuse us Uncle Abel Sally drinker and the others are waiting for us to finish the game yes of course my tears go ahead come Rachel let's show our gifts to Sally and Abel I'll make some tea for us you come into the back garden see how Samuel's flowers are growing thank you Rebecca tea will be fine oh you're always so thoughtful Abel no wonder the children love you don't be long my dear come into the garden Abel we'll have a pipe while we wait for Rebecca they were Samuel oh you must have many stories to tell of your voyage every night for the past six months Betsy has said the prayer for those at sea for you that's the child you know Samuel not just because she's my sister's child but Betsy's going to grow up to be a wonderful woman you mark my words that was one of many such family reunions during the time young Betsy Ross was growing up each time I came home and saw her again she was a little gayer and a little prettier a sparkling blue eyes seemed even brighter because of her sober Quaker dress and little Rachel was a pretty child too but she was content to stay in the background and share the general admiration for Betsy rather than be admired herself ten years had passed since I brought her the blue silk and Betsy was now a young lady she'd finish school and being a fine seamstress she had taken work at friend Williams upholstery shop for young John Ross was an apprentice then on one of my returns I noticed a shadow in Betsy's eyes and I knew that something was wrong welcome home uncle Abel mother and Rachel are at the market and father's going to a meeting at Carpenter's Hall well it's good to see you Betsy how are you my child it's good to see you too uncle come into the garden very well you look sad child not like yourself at all is something troubling you well to tell the truth I I've never been so happy and and yet I'm greatly troubled then it must be love that's troubling you uncle how did you know I make no claims to wisdom Betsy know yet to magic arts of fortune telling but when a young lady tells me she's happy which I can see in her blue eyes and at the same time greatly troubled which I can also see I do not have to look for more signs to know that she is in love but why does love trouble you my dear young Clape who loves you devotedly and always has but I don't love him I did there would be no trouble he's of the society of friends who then but not John Ross yes uncle what can I do it's not enough that he's a church member instead of a friend but to be the son of the Episcopal minister are you sure you love him child sometimes the first bloom of love is a false one that dies with early frost no uncle I am quite sure what might it do well distress mother and father sorely if I'm wedded outside the society you know what the book of discipline says yes mixing in marriage with those not of our profession is an unequal yoking which brings ill consequence to the parties is a hard say yes uncle but I know John he's a good man and there's no better Christian than his father in spite of his being the rector of Christ Church take the word of a lonely old man child follow your heart your parents will be hurt it's true but sometimes pain brings understanding then who knows perhaps there'll be better friends themselves if they're forced to accept a love that goes outside the profession dear uncle Abel you've taken a load off my heart I believe that you can understand so well mother and father must understand too in time I'll speak to them tonight bless you my child and may all go well with you and John and eventually Betsy became her bright self again but still she had to go through tears and shadows her parents were grieved and Betsy loving them grieved too she knew that the elder would be obliged to expel her from the society and that this would hurt them most of all but she was wise enough to know that once the step was made and once she was John's wife things would not seem so dark to them so she and John made their plans with my blessing at times I felt like a wicked old fool to encourage them later I thank God that I had finally all was ready John had saved enough money to buy his own house and shop on Arch Street and he and Betsy eloped to New Jersey to be married I saw them off that day in 1772 when they boarded the horse ferry to Gloucester God bless you Betsy and you too John well you look like a real dandy in that wedding suit thank you sir won't you reconsider and come with us yes uncle please do no Betsy I must go and see your mother the sooner I tell her where you've gone and why the longer she will have to face and understand it by the time you return and that's true Betsy we must make it as easy for your mother as we can oh you've been so kind to us we'll never forget your help I don't suppose my sister will either but it's Betsy's own life and I feel very confident she's doing the right thing oh just one question John yes how about your marriage gone it's very dear to New Jersey isn't it's 500 pounds sterling I saved most of it and William hug who'll attend us is lending us the rest thank you for asking uncle we'll be all right I'm sure you will with God's help take care of a John goodbye give me a kiss dear uncle yes you dear we'll be home tonight we'll see you often goodbye sir I stood there as the boat pulled away from the shore praying for their happiness which I believed was in God's hands and I have never seen a young couple anywhere who looked more as if they belonged together and always looking at that happy boy and girl I never dreamed how short their happiness would be you are listening to the proudly we hail production a ring of stars will return in just a moment for the second act here's a word to the young women high school graduates of 52 love and loyalty to one's country have never been the exclusive attributes of men women too have shown evidence of their devotion and courage now more than ever before the United States Army and the United States Air Force need young women go to your nearest United States Army and United States Air Force recruiting station have a talk with a recruiting sergeant find out how you can best serve your country and yourself volunteer for service in the whack women's Army Corps or WAF women in the Air Force today you are listening to proudly we hail now we present the second act of a ring of stars and so Betsy Griscun became Betsy Ross she and John went to live in his house in a pulse ring shop on Arch Street and it looked for some time as if after all they would have a long and happy married life together but there were rumblings in the colonies and the rumblings were growing louder the stamp act had been followed by the Townsend Act which brought the rumblings to my very door one morning in 1773 as I walked my warehouse I found my partner Henry drinker standing at the door in front of a gathering crowd yeah morning will Sam how are you none of you speaks Henry what's the matter they can look at this poster able the firm of James and drinker is asked not to accept the shipment of tea due to dock in the harbor this day from the East India Company as long as the Townsend Tax obtains any imports of tea will be looked upon as an act against the free British people of these colonies signed the tar and feathering committee well Henry I thought this was coming you think we'd better do get better send it back no tea drinking and free fence tax abound gentlemen this may cause violence we are friends man of peace are your friends of the colonies or friends of just a minute just a minute friends Henry and I want to do the right thing but we had to talk this over and what are you talking the ship is docking in the harbor but this may ruin us if you take this ship but you will be rude nobody will buy from you again maybe perhaps we'd better send it back ships are going back from New York every day the committee says the shippers there know what side they're on in Charleston they've taken all the tea and locked it up in a vault I think you're right Henry we'll go to the dock and tell the captain this will be a voyage he'll never forget I have a feeling we will never forget it either the war was still far off but the revolution had begun and we were still divided Torrey and weak Quaker and violent radical but the day would come when the tea cattle would boil over and make patriots of it all on Christmas day 1773 we were gathered at Betsy's home for a family dinner Sammy will Rebecca and Rachel Betsy John and I and on that day of joy and peace we were all happy because the family was reunited but the news was far from peaceful able what do you think of the news from what the Committee of Correspondence says your ships aren't the only ones returning to England with their full load of tea yes if the tax isn't lifted it's likely that we'll all forget the taste of tea entirely I've almost forgotten it already but here a glass of port for Christmas time your health gentlemen come in Mr. Dinker won't you join what brings you out on Christmas day hello Samuel Abel I have news from the Committee of Correspondence I thought you ought to hear it I can see on your face that it's no lights matter Sam Adams has had a party in Boston Harbor the band of men disguised as Indians he raided the East India ships burst open 343 chests of tea and threw them in the water the sons of Liberty will lead us to violence yet do you not think they're right sir it's hard to say they're wrong but I wonder where it will all end the end was nowhere in sight the long struggle was just beginning but things happened first after Sam Adams tea party have you heard General Washington about the attacks on Lexington and conquered yes it looks as if the lines are fully drawn we cannot draw back from standing for our rights now no matter what the outcome in Philadelphia assembled has proclaimed the organization of the American Continental Army the Congress has appointed as commander general George Washington of the college John Ross was one of the first volunteers as a militiamen he was assigned the task of guarding the stores of guns and ammunition brought in by James and drinker and other shippers from the West Indies to speed the cause of Liberty one cold day in January 1776 I was worried about some supplies that had just come in and I walked down from my warehouse to the wharf I got there just in time or rather just too late he's full get help here we'll have to take him home here will Sam guard on his place Sam help me carry him easy now Betsy easy he was hurt we must get him into the house come on Sam I'm all right Betsy I'm all right one was not all right he died within the hour Betsy mourned him with her whole heart she lived alone in the little house that she and John had shared for four short turbulent years and she continued to take work for the sowing in a post-ring shop for Betsy's fame as a fine seamstress had spent throughout the colony and her naturally bright spirits sustained her in spite of the lonely hours though she was no longer a member of the friend society she had never stopped being a true Quaker for she said one day to me my spirit shall be devoted to God and to my country and whenever the spirit moves me I'll sing and shout for liberty and finally in June 1776 the day came for which Betsy Ross was born and for which she will long be remembered yes gentlemen oh uncle Abel how are you Betsy my dear this is General Washington I'm honored sir won't you come in thank you mistress Ross won't you sit down what can I do for you thank you Betsy the general hasn't much time so we'll get right down to business as mr. James has said that you can help me mr. Betsy yes general I'll be happy if I can in what way sir can I be of help the army has no flag mr. Betsy we need a banner a symbol which will lead us on to victory no flag well I thought I had seen many flags among the troops that's true Betsy too many but we have no one flag to represent all 13 colonies the closest thing we have to a unifying symbol is the Union Jack with 13 stripes and I feel we must not adopt the flag of the British King when we are fighting for independence from the craft of course I hadn't thought of that I have a design here mr. Betsy a ring of 13 stars on a blue field with 13 stripes red and white alternating do you think you could make us a flag on this design why yes general I think I could you hesitate not because of difficulty I think no I was thinking general do you not think the flag would stand out more clearly if the stripes at top and bottom were red instead of white why yes yes of course that's so upon my word mr. James you brought me to the right person indeed I did I didn't know myself what a good choice I made but you were still hesitating mr. Betsy if you have another suggestion let us hear you I know you didn't ask me to redesign it for you general but do the stars have to have six points I think they'd be much prettier with five they would be prettier I thought of that but I thought it'd be very difficult to cut them out with five points preserving the symmetry required oh no general let me show you see I'll fold this piece of paper with one step of the scissors you see a perfect star bless me yes go ahead by all means and make the stars with five points you look quite happy now no other suggestions I take none when would you like the flag may we have it within the week I'll do it by tomorrow thank you mr. Betsy I wish I might have you on my staff Betsy Ross was as good as her word she worked the rest of that day and long into the night shaping stripes and stars of bunting in red and white squaring the edges of a deep blue field and sewing them together with binding of sailcloth and strong cord so that the first American flag could wave securely through the long bitter years that lay ahead and then the next day good morning general Washington come in won't you and you won't go away I hope we haven't come too early oh no I have it ready for you general coming to the parlor well here it is mr. Betsy I don't quite know what to say don't you like it general well is there something wrong like it oh no no there's nothing wrong this flag is a symbol of courage honor purity and loyalty and you have made it a thing of beauty yes indeed you have Betsy I am greatly indebted to you madam and so is the cause of American liberty I pledge to you that I will do my best to lead this flag to victory and that whatever its fate I will honor it to the end of my days you do me a great honor general I am glad you're pleased with it now you want to take it with you just a minute I'll roll it and wrap a piece of muslin around it thank you mr. Betsy I believe we may have made history on this day now will you come with me mr. James and if you don't need me general I think I'll stay a while and visit if I'm not intruding Betsy of course not Uncle Abel I'm delighted goodbye general Washington if I can help again I hope you'll call on me rest assured I will oh will you come into the kitchen with me Uncle Abel I'll make up a cup of chocolate thank you Betsy that will be very nice now you sit over there Uncle Abel and talk to me I'm I'm proud of you Betsy and I know John would be too thank you for saying that Uncle Abel you know I had a dream last night about John and about the flag I fell asleep while I was sewing on the stars and and I dreamed I saw them shining in the sky a dark blue sky with a shining ring of stars like the circle of eternity and suddenly the sky became a blue field in heaven and I heard John's voice saying I'm proud of you Betsy you've served our country well I knew then Uncle Abel that John's death was not in vain that somehow he had become part of a shining circle that would endure I heard his voice no more but then I saw the flag with the ring of stars and the flowing stripes of red and white growing so big that it seemed to spread out over this whole great land and then I I saw it marching to countries I've never seen all the lands where your ships have sailed the strange countries used to tell me about when I was a little girl and though it was a dream I knew with certainty that these stripes and these bright stars would shine forever to light the way to justice and freedom for mankind young woman how about your future does it include an interesting and important job a job that will take you to the exciting places of the world places where tomorrow's history is being made today right now young women like yourself are urgently needed to serve their country in the women's Army Corps here's your opportunity to secure your future go to your nearest United States Army and United States Air Force recruiting station and get all the facts today this has been another program on proudly we hail presented transcribed in cooperation with this station by the United States Army and the United States Air Force recruiting service this is Kenneth Bangart speaking and inviting you to tune in this same station next week for another interesting story on proudly we hail