Photo by CAROL SHETLER/The Luminary Flag collector, Rudy Mummey, chose his favorite among those displayed while presenting a program on Veteran’s Day. The dull, worn, tattered flag flew over a post in Iraq enduring sun, wind and sand. The Hughesville native, now of Lewisburg, spoke at the Lycoming County Historical Society-Thomas T. Taber Museum.

Anyone having 1700 flags in their possession should be considered a serious collector. Rudy Mummey of Lewisburg, a Hughesville native, gave a program on flags on Veteran’s Day during coffee hour at the Lycoming County Historical Society – Thomas T. Taber Museum, in Williamsport.

Mummey became intrigued with flags due to the influence of Gratz Bigger, his sixth grade teacher at Hughesville. “I thought they were interesting,” said the HHS alumnus. A retired educator himself, Mummey taught German, English and Drama at Lewisburg High School.

According to the speaker, “Our country has 27 official flags as Congress never retires any of them. Each flag is to have continual respect at a parade or wherever seen Of the 27, nine flew for only one year.”

Of the 27 flags, most familiar to the public may be the “Betsy Ross Flag,” the “Star Spangled Banner Flag,” and “Old Glory.”

After questioning the audience as to who made the first flag, the audience responded, naming Betsy Ross. “There is no proof she sewed this or any other flag. The rumor was started by her grandson. Regardless, many refer to the 13-star flag as by Ross,” the speaker said.

The “Star Spangled Banner Flag,” approved by Congress in 1794, had 15 stars and 15 stripes. The number of strips would return to, and remain at 13, signifying the original colonies. In 1814, Fort McHenry was bombarded. While observing the scene, poet Francis Scott Key composed what became the words to our National Anthem, “The Star Spangled Banner.”

The eleventh flag was identified as the “Driver Flag,” or “Old Glory.” In 1862, and with 34 stars, it was flown over Nashville, Tennessee. Union troops were occupying the city during the Civil War. The name was further popularized by northern newspapers, and the name “Old Glory” stuck.

The18th official flag was of special interest to the speaker. In 2012, a large replica of the 1912 flag hung from a building at Lycoming College, Mummey’s alma mater. The school was celebrating its centennial.

Flag makers were haphazardly placing stars and stripes at will. So, in 1912, President Taft issued an executive order establishing proportions for flags and arrangements of stars. Stars were to be affixed in six horizontal rows of eight each. A single point on the five-point stars was to point upward. Congress affirmed the President’s order for the 48-star flag.

Rare flags can be worth huge amounts and are usually found in the hands of collectors or at museums. In order to have a complete collection, Mummey had his sister Betty sew some 500 of them. He provided her with material, instructions and photos. As Betty E. Bowman is 93 years old, she currently constructs miniatures.

As the country’s current flag has 50 stars for 50 states, Mummey asked, “Where are we going from here?” After a pause for audience input, he said, “Waiting in the wings is Puerto Rico, the possible admission of entities such as Washington, D. C., New York City, Guam and others.”

There are flags designating each individual state. The city of Philadelphia flies a flag specifically for Philadelphia. There are organizational flags, plus flags noting law enforcement and firemen, and many more.

Following the Q&A part of the program, an audience member suggested concluding the program with the Pledge of Allegiance. Mummey responded by saying, “That’s an appropriate ending, especially on this Veteran’s Day.

Copyright © Muncy Luminary | https://www.muncyluminary.com | 1025 Route 405 Highway, Hughesville, PA 17737 | 570-584-2134 | Ogden Newspapers | The Nutting Company