STATE RECOGNIZES ALTENBURG STUDENTS IN FLAG RESTORATION (10 YEARS AGO)

Oct. 17, 1988; Page 1A

Reprinted from the Southeast Missourian

ALTENBURG -- Students at Altenburg Public School were honored this morning for their efforts to save Missouri's flag.

Secretary of State Roy Blunt, who coordinated a fund-raising project in which students raised money for the flag, visited the school and presented a number of gifts.

Altenburg placed second in Missouri in a fund-raising campaign to help restore Missouri original flag.

Students throughout the state were asked to raise money for the project in conjunction with the flag's 75th anniversary in March. A goal of $9,200 was set.

"We didn't raise $9,200," Blunt said this morning. "We raised $25,000."

He commended students at Altenburg for "outstanding statewide leadership" and declared them, "official guardians of the flag."

About 20 students were involved in Altenburg's fund-raising effort. In all the school raised $210, which was $4.20 per student.

As second place fund raisers, Altenburg received an American flag and a Missouri flag with new flag poles, and five smaller flags to be displayed in the building. Blunt also gave the students a framed proclamation outlining their achievement.

"We really liked seeing Roy Blunt," said Ben Hunt, a student involved in the campaign. He added that saving the flag is important "so people can go up (to Jefferson City) and see it. Now it can be viewed by the public."

Dana Mendola, another student, added, "It's always important to preserve history."

Blunt said the flag will be sent to The Rocky Mountain Regional Conservation Center in Denver, Colo. to begin a year-long restoration.

The restoration will cost just over $9,000. The additional money raised will be used to make an educational video tape on the flag and Missouri's other state symbols.

The video will be made in conjunction with the Missouri Telephone Association. Copies of the video tape will be provided to Missouri elementary schools for use in classrooms.

Blunt is visiting the top 10 schools with the largest contribution per pupil this week. The tour culminates Wednesday, Missouri Day.

The top school in Cameron, followed by Altenburg, Independence, Neosho, Brookfield, Fulton, Myrtle, Unionville, Joplin, and St. Henry's School in Charleston which placed 10th.