MISSOURI FLAG GETS NEW LIFE; BLUNT DISPLAYS REVAMPED BANNER

CAPE GIRARDEAU - The original Missouri state flag, which was made in Cape Girardeau 80 years ago, was brought home one last time by Secretary of State Roy Blunt Monday afternoon.

Blunt unveiled the restored, hand-painted, silk flag at an assembly of fifth- and sixth-grade students at Franklin School here. The flag, now sealed in a permanent case, will be returned to Jefferson City, where it will be put on permanent display in the new State Archives Building scheduled to open in June.

Marie Elizabeth Oliver of Cape Girardeau came up with the original design in 1908, and submitted a painting of it to the General Assembly for its consideration in 1909. The drawing was destroyed when the capitol burned in 1910, so Oliver made the original flag for the Legislature to consider. In March 1913, it was chosen as the official state flag.

Blunt, chief archivist for the state, initiated a restoration effort at Washington School three years ago. At that time he asked fourth-, fifth- and sixth-grade school children around the state to hold fund-raising projects to raise the $9,000 it would take to restore the flag.

"We're back here in another Cape Girardeau elementary school to show you what was been done," said Blunt. "I'm here to say thank-you to all those people who helped: students, teachers and administrators."

Monday marked the first time the restored flag had been displayed publicly. As students returned to classes they walked past the flag for a close look.

Blunt called on two students to help hold the flag case as he discussed with students the history and meaning of the flag and official state seal.

The Oliver family kept the flag in Cape Girardeau until 1961, when it was presented to then-secretary of state Warren Hearnes as a gift to the state. In 1980, because of its deteriorating condition, the flag was taken down in the state museum and put into storage to protect it from further decay.

"In the last 10 years," said Blunt, "this flag has been seen by just a few dozen people, and now you are seeing it today."

Blunt pointed out that the flag had not been in Cape Girardeau for 30 years, and it now would be displayed as a lasting symbol of Missouri history in the new archives building.

"For many years to come, people will be able to visit the State Archives and see this flag because kids like you took the time to support this effort," he said.

Blunt said all elementary schools in Cape Girardeau participated in the fund-raising effort as did just about every school in Southeast Missouri. In all, 225 Missouri schools participated. Schools that raised over $75 were given a state flag.

Although the goal was $9,000, the students wound up raising $27,000, which Blunt termed "one of the great governmental successes of all time."

The additional money was used to match $80,000 from the Missouri Telephone Association for production of a 28-minute video tape on the history of the flag and other state symbols for elementary schools to use.

Blunt said it would have been easier to restore the flag by asking the Legislature to fund it or seek a business contribution, but the fund-raiser was a good way for students to get involved in preserving history.

Also attending the presentation Monday was John Oliver, a Cape Girardeau attorney, who is the great grandson of the flag's designer.