| OCR Text |
Show EDDIE LEECH FLIES HISTORIC FLAG ON PATRIOTIC DAYS j Flying over Milford's business houses and residences on Independence Inde-pendence Day were a few of the new 50-star U. S. Flags, a host of the older 48-star ensigns, and one 46-star flag. Eddie Leech, s o n of Spanish-American Spanish-American War Veteran Charles Frederick Leech, owns one of the 46-star flags which were flown officially of-ficially from July 4, 1908, until July 4, 1912; and he has flown it every Flag Day, Independence Day, and "on every other major national holiday" since he acquired it after death of his father in 1931. The ensign has four rows of eight stars each, and two rows, second from the top and second from the bottom, of seven stars each. Mr. Leech isn't certain when the flag first came in possession of his j family, but "was told" it was pre- sented to his father when he was mustered out of the Army after the Spanish-American War. How-1 ever, the Spanish-American Varj was fought in 1898, and at that ! time a 45-star flag was the official emblem. The 46-siar flag did not come into use until 1908, after the admission to the Union of Oklahoma. Okla-homa. The flag is slightly soiled, and has a few moth holes, but, for the past 20-odd years, Mr. Leech has kept the souvenir emblem in a cedar chest between times when it is flown at the front of his home. He plans to have it cleaned, but first will check with cleaning authorities au-thorities to be certain what type of cleaning to ask for, to prevent any possible damage. "My family is very proud of this flag," Mr. Leech said, "and we know it is at least 38 years old, because the 48-star flag came into use in 1912. I expect to continue flying it on every patriotic occasion, occa-sion, unless it becomes weathered and in danger of damage. Then we'll store it properly and it will continue to be a 'part' of our family's- patriotic heirlooms." |
