REFURBISHED `OLIVER FLAG' TO DEBUT HERE

CAPE GIRARDEAU - Nearly two years after he launched a drive among school children to pay for restoration of the original Missouri State flag here, Secretary of State Roy Blunt will return to the city Monday to unveil the restored flag for the first time.

The state flag was designed by a Cape Girardeau resident, Marie Elizabeth Oliver, and was approved as Missouri's official flag by the General Assembly in 1913.

After the flag was approved, Oliver kept the original flag until her death. In 1961, the family donated the flag to the state and it had been displayed in the state museum until 1980 when its deteriorating condition forced its removal from public display.

"Two years ago, I asked students in Cape Girardeau, Southeast Missouri and all across the state to help restore one of the state's most important symbols, our original state flag," said Blunt. "Next week, we will be honoring the students' efforts by officially unveiling the flag in the hometown of Missouri's flag."

Blunt will unveil the flag at an assembly for fifth and sixth grade students at Franklin School at 2:30 p.m. Monday. Franklin Principal Ron Haggard said the secretary of state will have about a 20-minute program for the students.

Children at Franklin School were among those who helped raise money to pay for the $9,000 cost of restoring the hand-painted silk flag.

In March of 1988, the secretary of state spoke to an assembly at Washington School to kick off a fund drive among fourth, fifth, and sixth graders in Missouri to help save "an important part of Missouri's heritage."

Schools were asked to raise funds any way they wanted and all schools that raised at least $75 were given a state flag.

"This will be a proud day in Missouri history and a proud moment for the Cape Girardeau students who are responsible for preserving the work of Mrs. Oliver," said Blunt. "Cape Girardeau students have played an important role in preserving a part of their heritage, and these young people, their children and their grandchildren, will have this flag as a lasting symbol of their state's history."

As secretary of state, Blunt serves as the state's chief archivist and curator of the original flag. This summer, the flag will be placed on permanent display in the Missouri State Archives.

Blunt said it would have been easier to ask a business or the legislature to appropriate funds for the restoration. However, he stressed that since fourth, fifth, and sixth grade students are beginning to learn about the history of Missouri, this was a good way to get them involved in preserving a part of that history.

In 1908, the Daughters of the American Revolution appointed a committee to work toward the design and approval of an official flag for the state.

Oliver was a member of that committee and contacted other states about flag designs, before coming up with one for Missouri. She enlisted the help of Mary Kochtitsky, then a Cape Girardeau artist, to assist her in painting the design. The flag was made at Oliver's residence at 740 North Street.

The flag was presented to the General Assembly for approval in 1909. But while awaiting official adoption, the State Capitol caught fire and the flag was destroyed.

Mrs. Oliver, this time with the help of Mrs. S.D. McFarland, made a second flag.

In 1913, a final decision was made as legislators chose the "Oliver flag."

On March 22, 1913, Gov. Elliot Major signed the law officially designating it as the state flag.