Flags were flipping and flapping in the breeze – a sea of red, white and blue.
The Lincoln Park Exchange Club, in conjunction with the City’s Historical Society, posted on social media about a special event to be held in Memorial Park in conjunction with America’s 250th birthday and no, it wasn’t a gigantic cake like we had for the City’s 100th birthday last year.
There was also a marquee in the park displaying the official America 250 logo commemorating the 250th birthday of the U.S.
There would be 250 flags, one flag representing each year since 1776 to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. There would be different flags, ranging in the amount of stars and stripes as more states were added to the Union, including the Betsy Ross flag to the Star Spangled Banner flag we know today.
I’ve visited and written about other flag events like Field of Flags or even the annual Memorial Day flags honoring the Lincoln Park veterans who lost their lives in World Wars I and II, plus the Korean, Vietnam and Iraq conflicts. The Exchange Club always does a nice job for these events.
The display commenced on Flag Day, June 14th and ran through 4th of July weekend. I decided to meander over there on June 15th as we had multiple bouts of severe weather on the horizon – no telling what havoc would be wreaked after Mother Nature had her way with the display, as wicked winds, torrential downpours and hail, even a tornado, were all predicted.
As with previous displays, I’ll admit there is no good way to capture the panoramic view with my eyes, let alone with the camera – many of the 250 flags were bound to be left out.
So, as I strolled through the massive display, I decided to take some group shots of the flags (seen up top), then hone in on some of the individual years and different flags.
Well, that was an idea that sounded good, but there was already a bit of a breeze when I arrived at the park. I thought the “gentle breeze” mentioned on the weather report that morning would stir the flags a little, providing for nice shots. By the time I got home, wind gusts were at 18 mph.
So, I did the best I could at any rate. Here are some groups of flags down the walkways …
… and, here is another angle. They had several floodlights turned on, used to light the display at night, even though sunrise had already come and was long gone. Generators powered each of the floodlights which you see in the next two shots.
Occasionally, that gentle breeze kicked up a notch or two and flags were flapping wildly.
I was the only person at the flag display, but admittedly, having the heavy material fluttering wildly near my head (I ducked a few times) and especially my shoulder, would have made me think someone was trying to get my attention by tapping on my shoulder. 🙂
I decided to get a quick video to show you how out of control those flipping flags really were but that idea fizzled out fast and I didn’t try again.
Checking out the flags and their stories.
Each flag had a hangtag with info about the specific year, including a brief history, plus what type of flag was flying at that time, or how many stars were on a particular flag …
… or even how many stripes the flag had (you’ll see what I mean later).
It wasn’t just the flags fluttering but the hangtags were prone to flipping over, but I still got a few clear shots, like this Betsy Ross flag from 1787 …
… here you see the 1787 flag and another Betsy Ross flag nearby.
Below is how the Star Spangled Banner looked in 1800, at the turn of the century.
This is an example of the flip side of the tag showing the year 1814’s historical events.
For you history buffs out there, the 1814 flag was significant for this 15-15 reason:
I also paused to see “my” flag from my birth year, 1956 …
… and the flag for 1976 since, as you know from my recent post, I remember the Bicentennial year very well.
But, on a personal note, the “In Memory of” tag i.e. the person remembered from the year 1976, Bob O’Brien, was someone I knew well and originally met while working at Carter’s.
The owners of the Lincoln Park Roller Rink, father and son, Lyle and Jim Seat, had lunch there every day; Bob was their employee and always joined them once he finished high school. Just like his employers, Bob was quick on his roller skates and would help keep the crowds in line, especially on weekends. The roller rink was a hoppin’ place back in the day and that’s how Bob met his future wife Judy. She would often meet him at Carter’s for lunch and I got to know them well and was invited to their 1976 wedding. Shortly thereafter they became my next-door neighbors, but moved away a few years later. Bob worked fulltime at an unrelated job, but he and Judy managed the roller rink together until 2017. Bob was active in the Shriners helping children for many years until his passing in 2023. So, it was nice to see the flag tag commemorating their marriage … 1976 was a magical year for them, just like it was for me.
At the far end of the park, was the very last flag, representing the current year.
The 2026 flag was sponsored by United Rentals (the generator/floodlights and likely more in conjunction with the event).
There were several other sponsors as seen on this sign.
Also of note is the display of the Declaration of Independence, flanked by the official logo of America’s 250th birthday. The Declaration of Independence double-sided display was made of material and the wind was sending ripples cascading through that material.
As most of you know I am not an American citizen – I am Canadian. My parents and I emigrated to Southeast Michigan from Oakville, Ontario 60 years ago, on July 8, 1966.
It seems like I have marked a lot of personal decade milestones this year, beginning with what would have been my late mother’s 100th birthday on February 14, then me turning 20 years old and graduating with my Associates degree/leaving HFCC behind with many fond memories in 1976. My grandmother was born in 1906 and passed away in 1986, so it was 40 years this January since she passed away.
So, living here 60 of my 70 years is just another milestone ….
I am linking this post to Terri’s Sunday Stills Challenge: Groups and Pepper’s One Step at a Time.
Linda Schaub
WALKIN', WRITIN', WIT & WHIMSY 
A wonderful post honoring the USA. So glad you are here, Linda. 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Pepper – it was quite a sight to see. Thank you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I loved all the flag stories and photos.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Anne, I’m glad you liked the post! There was a lot of info and it was quite a sight to see!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s amazing how the flag has adapted over the years. Just like people.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, that’s very true Kate. I didn’t realize the flag had so many variations through the years.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m glad I wasn’t there – I would have felt compelled to read the cards for each of the 250 flags!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re right JP – anyone who is a history buff would have appreciated this exhibit and each card which was chock full of info about that particular year!
LikeLiked by 1 person
What an amazing patriotic exhibit! It must have been wonderful seeing when those new stars were added over the years, it could put things into perspective. I never stopped to think about it before, that there were only 48 states the year I was born, and only 45 when my grandmother was born in 1906. Your pictures captured the excitement of it all very well!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Barbara! I always enjoyed going to the Field of Honor exhibit in the same park, so I thought this would be pretty special too. I wish the City would have had a photograph of all the 250 flags as I could not begin to get them all into an image, even standing far away. I never thought about how they were always adding stars all the time either. It was interesting to walk through, see the flags and read their hangtags. Our grandmothers were both born in 1906, just think, 120 years ago.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Miss Linda………………….thank you for the different display of flags and their meanings………………………….I never knew all of that……………………I always learn something from your blogs……………………………we were without power in Taylor for a few days………………so I am behind times catching up with you………………………….
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m glad you enjoyed it Ann Marie. I read about the display and thought it would be interesting for a blog post. So many flags there, even more than the Field of Flags they had for the individual military personnel from Lincoln Park that lost their lives. It was interesting to walk through the display. I know that Taylor got hit hard with that storm on the 3rd, so I guess this was the same one. I hope we have no severe storms at the end of this next heat wave. I am officially ready for Fall and I’m sure you, as a fellow walker, are as well.
LikeLike
Wow, 250 flags displayed, that was an amazing experience to walk through that I’m sure, Linda! How apropos you also shared milestones in your life related to 1976 and beyond! This whole project took years in the making! Well photographed!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Terri! I wish I could have shown all 250 flags and I thought if the City’s Facebook site had a drone shot or other panoramic shot I would have included it, but I guess no one thought to do that. It was quite an experience to walk through the display, especially as it was windy and the flags were flapping and flipping all around me!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m sure it was moving and very emotional! I would have cried!
LikeLiked by 1 person
They were supposed to have a special ceremony on July 4th or 5th right at the flag site and, of course, Mother Nature didn’t cooperate so they had to have it indoors at the Senior Center. The Field of Honor flags was very moving … it was all the veterans from our City that lost their lives in various wars. It had all their info on hang tags: name/rank/whatever branch of military they served in, date of birth and death, where they were killed. It was very moving. That does not happen every year, but we do have a nice display of about 50-75 flags at Memorial Park for Memorial Day.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s a cool flag project. I suppose this was done a lot of other places, too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I thought so too Eilene and I suspect a lot of larger cities probably had an America 250 display. I was surprised our city did as it’s fairly small (5 miles square), but the Exchange Club does special tributes to our veterans like Field of Honor and annual flags, so maybe that is why they were chosen.
LikeLike
An amazing display and how nice that they included the tags with our country’s history. I appreciate you sharing this as I did not get to any 4th of July celebrations.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, it was really an amazing display Ruth and I enjoyed walking through it – 250 flags in one place is a lot of flags to see. It was almost like one of those immersive experiences. The tags were very informative, front showing the flag picture and back all the history for that year. I think they should have left it in place all year after all that work, but I suspect it goes to another city … they did not say if it was a traveling exhibit or not.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Never knew about the 15-15 flag but glad the trend didn’t continue because fifty stripes… no thank you! Fifty stars is a much more efficient way to represent the union.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I had never heard about the 15-15 flag either Dave … it was a one-time occurrence and yes, 50 stripes would be a bit outrageous and need a very huge flag I’d think!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sorry I missed this earlier, Linda! We have been watching the World Cup soccer tournament, so I’m trying to catch up now. Your photos turned out well! Interesting to read about all the different flags, and I checked out your video. I didn’t know you have a YouTube channel, which I’ve now subscribed to. It was nice to hear your voice! 😎 You’ve had many personal milestones and I feel a kinship with you, since I’m only a year older and live in the place you came from. Very cute sketch at the end! 💖
LikeLiked by 1 person
Debbie, I thought it was interesting about the flags too and it was a real immersive experience to walk amongst them. I remember when Canada got its own flag in 1965. We were still living in Canada. Before that I remember the class singing “God Save the Queen” to the music blaring over the PA system every morning in elementary school and it was the Union Jack. I almost didn’t stick that little video in because it was so short. I was frustrated the flags were blowing around and I kept dodging them and I wanted to show them unfurled and of course the wind died down. My YouTube channel is pretty small, just the two possums caught in the backyard groundhog debacle a few years ago – we never did trap the groundhog. Then Mrs. Cardinal and her brood in the nest. I really should make more little videos. This year was full of personal milestones, decade milestones … I look back and can’t fathom how the decades just flew by, especially when I did the two 1976 posts, reliving a half-century ago. Yes, we do have that kinship and I often wonder what I’d be doing if I still lived in Canada. I’m glad you liked my sketch. I’ve been playing with ink-and-wash watercolor painting, which is easier, informal and much more forgiving as to blending colors which I’m still not adept at.
LikeLike
It’s amazing how quickly half a century goes by! 😮Oakville has changed a lot since you left, and not for the better! Urban sprawl is out of control and crime has increased substantially. Still one of the safest places in Canada, though. Toronto is starting to look like any American big city. Daily shootings, stabbings, etc. It’s awful! 😫
LikeLiked by 1 person
That makes me sad to read this Debbie and, if I never remarked on the crime in Toronto before, I can remember that Toronto used to be nicknamed “Toronto the Good” and I can still hear my mother tsk-tsking when we would visit my grandmother several years after moving here and we’d watch the local news, or my grandmother would relay a story about a murder or other crime – that kind of thing didn’t happen before.
LikeLike
Wow! Amazing photos and post. Thank you for sharing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Kirstin – it really was a moving experience to walk amongst all those flags. I’m glad you liked the post.
LikeLike
A great post Linda! I loved all the flags and their stories. Is that your drawing of the dog with a flag? He’s super cute!
LikeLiked by 1 person
The flag display was really impressive Susan – it was almost like an immersive experience walking around all those flags. I wish I could say it was my drawing, but it is a tee-shirt I have and I took a photo of it with the intention of trying to draw/paint it, but I had trouble getting all the stars in and they looked like blobs, so I had to use the tee-shirt pic instead. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love the sight of flags flying in the wind. Your painting is great!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Joni – I’m glad you liked this post because being immersed within 250 flags while they were whipping around and flapping wildly was quite the experience. I should have put a postscript on the little dog holding the flag. My mom bought me that tee-shirt once when we were out shopping over 4th of July weekend. I took the photo of the dog on the tee-shirt so I could try to draw/paint it. I did draw, then paint it and when it was dry and time to paint in the stars, I used a white gel pen and the stars looked like blobs, so I used this photo instead.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I thought you had painted it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I should have stayed mum on it then! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I thought you had dual citizenship!
Also, the many flag photos was a boost of color and pride
LikeLiked by 1 person
No, I do not Yvette. I’m still here on a green card which I have to renew every ten years. I just renewed it in 2025. The flag display was really something, just being immersed amongst 250 flags flapping around and to see and read about the history for the last 250 years as well.
LikeLiked by 1 person
well glad it works out for you to stay xxx
LikeLiked by 1 person