In July 1917, Mrs. Charles Signer of Olympia, Washington, did something involving a flag that was worthy of attention in the newspaper. But her action didn’t include the American flag. Rather, it focused on a flag that was brand new to the world. “First Service Flag Will Be Hoisted in Olympia” read the headline. Mrs…. continue
A century and a half ago, during the closing months of the Civil War, Harper’s Weekly, an influential magazine, continued its coverage of the conflict – and its support of the Northern cause. Many times, that support was shown through images of the American flag. One of the most striking shows Abraham Lincoln as a… continue
In 1903, 300 children who attended St. Thomas Catholic School in Wilmington, Delaware, celebrated Thanksgiving Day in an unusual way. After attending Mass, they “adjourned to the lawn about the church,” according to a newspaper, where “a new American flag was raised.” While the linking of Thanksgiving and flags is rare in the 21st century,… continue
Baseball legend Joe DiMaggio is usually not thought of as having a connection to flags. But the centennial of his birth (Nov. 25, 1914) brings memories of how often he was associated with bunting, pennants and American flags. The anniversary also calls attention to another Joe DiMaggio, who is associated with flags because he loves… continue
A flag and a famous bridge were recently linked when two German artists/activists climbed the Brooklyn Bridge to fling two white-washed American flags to the breeze. They later claimed that they were honoring “the beauty of public space” and saluting the German-born architect who designed the span. In 1937, another famous bridge, on the verge… continue