While Wolf Cub Scouts in Christiansburg Pack 145 were learning about the American flag and ways to respect and honor it, the boys and girls unraveled from brown paper packaging and string a surprising piece of history that they shared with their fellow Boy Scouts in Troop 145.
The flag had been donated to the Pack and Troop 145 for their annual flag retirement ceremony, but the Cub Scouts immediately noticed something strange about this 5-by-9 foot flag. The flag’s thick cotton fabric was indeed dingy and had several moth holes, but it felt different than the usual nylon flags usually received for the proper burning. Upon closer examination, the stars in the blue field looked odd because they were all in straight lines. The Cubs quickly counted and found the flag had only 48 stars representing only 48 states.
Flags with 48 stars flew in the United States beginning in 1912 when two stars were added for the states of Arizona and New Mexico.
This 48-star type of flag was official for 47 years, longer than any other flag design made to represent the USA. During those years, a 48-star flag flew through two World Wars and the emergence of the United States of America as the leading nation of the world. Eight Presidents served under this flag; William H. Taft (1909-1913), Woodrow Wilson (1913-1921), Warren Harding (1921-1923), Calvin Coolidge (1923-1929), Herbert Hoover (1929-1933), Franklin D. Roosevelt (1933-1945), Harry S. Truman (1945-1953), Dwight D. Eisenhower (1953-1961).
Briefly for one year in 1959, there was a 49-star flag when Alaska was formally granted statehood. President Eisenhower was the only president to serve under that flag. After Hawaii was admitted as the fifth state on August 21, 1959, Eisenhower proclaimed the arrangement of 50 stars in nine rows of stars staggered horizon tally and eleven rows of stars staggered vertically the official USA flag on July 4, 1960.
The Cub Scouts shared this flag with their older Boy Scouts in Troop 145. It was determined that this flag could not be retired.
Although the exact age of the flag is not known, it appears to be at lease 58 years old.
The discovery of the flag is especially interesting to scouts who, in the Scout’s Oath pledge duty to country and are guided by adult volunteer leaders to honor the people who serve the land of the free, to demonstrate patriotism and to respect the freedoms we cherish today.
One way they demonstrate patriotism is Memorial Day.
Pack and Troop 145 will be helping local veteran’s organizations on Saturday, May 25, 2019 at Christiansburg Sunset Cemetery to post flags at the graves of veterans to honor Memorial Day.
—-Staff Reports
