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and making them sing doggerel can hardly have any effect except to vulgarize them,” said the magazine. “We believe that there is left enough of the old saving grace of humor to send this big and foolish book into the obscurity which yawns for the bathetic. What is really serious—and the only thing that warrants our giving it a moment’s attention—is that it bears the imprimatur of the State Superintendent, and that it is to be inflicted upon our schools.”

But it was not enough to stop the legions of patriots pushing for more flag appreciation. The Grand Army of the Republic officially endorsed the salute in 1899, and in 1905 its chief aide in charge of military instruction and patriotic education in schools, Allan Bakewell, circulated detailed instructions on a salute program in the group’s August 1 newsletter. “The flag should be floated daily over every school-house,” he said. “[A]nd, if any State has not yet on its statute books a law requiring this, all Aides in such States are urged to endeavor to secure such a law.”

Bakewell continued:

It should not be hoisted and lowered in a mere perfunctory way, but with ceremony and salutation. My recommendation to the National Encampment that there should be but one pledge in the salute met with favor, therefore the only pledge recommended is, “I pledge allegiance to my flag and to the republic for which it stands, one nation indivisible, with liberty and justice to all.” This form of pledge, with instructions for saluting, will be furnished upon requisition.

The Woman’s Relief Corps, with whom you are urged to co-operate, are most earnest in this work of educating the youth to be patriotic, and you will find the Department President fully instructed by the National Patriotic Instructor and ready to join in every reasonable endeavor. . . .

Let us all stand firmly together then, as if it were to be the last year in which we would have the privilege of serving our country. We must dispute the advance of anarchy. We must do all we can to prevent confusion by enrolling a large body in the interest of peace. Whoever shall be taught to respect the flag will always be ready to protect it. And, wherever it shall fly, it must be for the protection of the weak, a menace to inhumanity, a banner of good will and honor for all mankind.

Bakewell then explained again the proper etiquette in saluting the flag:

At the given hour in the morning the pupils are assembled and in their places in the school. A signal is given by the principal of the school. Every student or pupil rises in his place. The flag is brought forward to the principal or teacher. While it is being brought forward from the door to the stand of the principal or teacher, every pupil gives the flag the military salute, which is as follows:—

The right hand uplifted, palm upward, to a line with the forehead, close to it. While thus standing with the palm upward and in the attitude of salute, all the pupils repeat together, slowly and distinctly, the following pledge:—

“I pledge allegiance to my Flag and to the Republic for which it stands: One Nation indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for All.”

At the words “to my Flag,” each one extends the right hand gracefully, palm upward, toward the flag, until the end of the pledge of affirmation. Then all hands drop to the side. The pupils still standing, all sing together in unison the song “America,”—”My Country, ’tis of thee.”

In the primary departments, where the children are very small, they are taught to salute in silence, as an act of reverence, unaccompanied by any pledge. At a signal, as the flag reaches its station, the right hand is raised, palm downward, to a horizontal position against the forehead, and held there until the flag is dipped and returned to a vertical position. Then, at a second signal, the hand is dropped to the side, and the pupil takes his seat. The silent salute conforms very closely to the military and naval salute to the flag.

With America’s entry into World War I in 1917, the demand for flags hit an all-time high. Between