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Flag, United States, 48 stars

Object/Artifact
6x10 foot fabric flag with appliqued stars and sewn stripes. This is not a printed flag, it is constructed of red, white and blue fabrics sewn together. The material may be cotton or linen or perhaps a wool blend because there may be small moth holes in the fabric. The flag has two brass-colored grommets and reinforced corners on the hoist/header edge. The lower corner of the fly edge has been patched by hand with matching red fabric.
Flag, United States, 48 stars picture number 1
Flag, United States, 48 stars picture number 2 Flag, United States, 48 stars picture number 3 Flag, United States, 48 stars picture number 4 patch detail

2023.09.01

United States flags with 48 stars were flown from July 4, 1912 to July 3, 1959 so this large flag may have been associated with the death of soldier Charles J. Freshe, Saugatuck's first World War I fatality, who died in France on Jun. 6, 1918. The flag has diagonal creases that may be from a "13-fold" ceremony that occurs after a flag has been draped over a casket at a military funeral. Before the casket is laid in the ground, the flag is removed, folded into a triangular shape and presented to the family, often the mother or wife, of the fallen soldier.

Military, wars and veterans

Winthers, Sally

6 in

10 in

169 Flags, USA

Fair

The white fabric has yellowed and small holes are spattered across the flag.

Frehse, Charles John 1893-1918

[email protected]

05/11/2023

[email protected]

05/15/2023