The Camas Hot Springs Exchange

On Flag Day -- the World's Largest Flag

June 14th has long been an important date for all Americans, because it is on that day that people across 48 states decorate their homes and businesses with flags and bits of bunting on a singularly American holiday-Flag Day.

And it is on this day that the largest flag in the world is annually on proud display at the J. L. Hudson Company's downtown store in Detroit. This huge department store first unfurled the world's largest flag on Armistice Day, November 11, 1923. The entire nation soon became aware of this famous banner because of its long and eventful history of displays on the United States Capitol building in Washington and later at the New York World's Fair in 1939. For 26 years it was shown at least once each year until its retirement.

On Flag Day, June 14, 1949 the present giant version of Old Glory was dedicated and made its debut. For six months the George P. Johnson Company of Detroit worked on the construction of this tremendous flag. Eight women worked at sewing machines for more than 700 hours. Three sail makers put in the webbing, ropes and metal eyes for the ropes.

Woven of the finest grade of shrinkproof Army wool, the world's largest flag measures 235 feet long by 104 feet high. Each star is 5 1/2 feet tall and each stripe is eight-feet wide. Materials include 2,038 yards of wool, 5,500 yards of thread, 57 yards of heavy-duty canvas and more than a mile of strong rope to hold the flag against the building.

The tug of the wind and its own weight (three quarters of a ton) make the flag unwieldy. It takes considerable room and a crew of 55 men to handle and store the flag. The wooden packing case for storage alone weighs 250 pounds.

Old Glory flies at Hudson's downtown store in Michigan's largest city each year on June 14th a stirring view for all Americans, everywhere.

Sheve Libby
In The Christian Science Monitor.

The picture in connection with the story shows Old Glory on display in downtown Detroit.