At the time of the 100th anniversary of Monroe, an old flag was discovered in the courthouse and Martha Woods, reporter for the Monroe Area Business Magazine, was dispatched to find the story behind it. She did much research but could not be certain this flag was the one matching her research.
In the archives of the Green County Historical Society, a copy of the “Monroe Daily Journal” of Monday, July 1, 1918 mentions the dedication of a “service flag”.
The article reads:
THE MONROE DAILY JOURNAL
Monday, July 1, 1918
“SERVICE FLAG IS DEDICATED”
Formal Exercises Planned For Open Air, Held in Armory On Account Of Rain
PACKED HALL OF PEOPLE PRESENT
“A large Service Flag, with wide red margin and 568 blue stars on a white center back ground, each star representing a Green County boy in the war service, was formally dedicated with appropriate exercises in the Armory of this city Sunday afternoon.
The rain of the early morning necessitated the switching of the place of dedication from the fair grounds to the hall.
The formal presentation of the service flag was made by P.F. Neverman on behalf of the Council of Defense and accepted by W.F. Trukenbrod on behalf of the County Board of Supervisors. As the flag was unfurled, the Monroe Hussar Band, played the ‘Star-Spangled Banner’. The flag will have added stars of those that join the colors in the future and be preserved throughout the future.”
*From Monroe Area Business Magazine December 1990, and Green County Historical Society Archives.
The Green County Historical Society invites the public to stop by the museum at 1617 9th Street on weekend afternoons through September. Upcoming events sponsored by the Museum are a Quilt Show August 13, 1-4 p.m.; Local Authors Day October 1, 1-4 p.m., and the Annual Christmas Décor Sale, November 11-12, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
