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VOLUiiS IV WILDER 26
29 June 1959
,x
49TH STAR FLYS FOR FIRST TIME ON 4TH Of
JULY
WASHINGTON, The nation’s new 49-star flag
will be raised officially-' for the first,
time at one minute after Midnight‘"on the
^prning of July' 4 at Fort McHenry Nation
al. monument, Baltimore, birthplace of the
Star-Spangled Banner.- m
Secretary of the in
terior Fred A. Seaton,
will hoist the new flag
with its 49th star re
presenting Alaska-,while ..
the United States Mar
ine band plays the,Nat
ional Anthem. .
Seaton said Ft. Me—
Henry was selected be
cause it is'the pnly
place in the U.S. which ..
has official permission
by presidential proclam- .
"Before the flag raising, Army and
Navy units will participate in a re
oenactment of the bombardment which
Ft. McHenry withstood with
its: huge garrison flag flying
proudly "through the perilous
fight" on Sept. 13-14, 1812.
A replica- of the great ba
ttle that *vey saw "by dawn's
early light," measuring 42 by
30 feet and bearing 15 stars
and stripes, will be ilown
from a 100-foot flagpole. The
flag will be illuminated by
"the rockets' red glare" and
"the bombs bursting in air"as
Navy ships offshore and Army
units in the Fort's outer de
fences .exchange mock fire.
The ceremonies at Fort Me
mat ion to fly the American flag 24 hours ' Henry will be6*in about 11: p-.m. on 3
a day "as a perpetual symbol of our patri- July, just before the 49-star flag is
otism." raised at one minute after Midnight.
-FUR OFFICIAL USE ONLY. DESTROY AFTER USE._
PRESS LUST NOT FALL INTO UNAUTHORIZED HANDS.
Navy-DPPO 1SND Bremerton, Wash.