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City to take part in Bicentennial Flag raising ceremony
With the official bicentennial of Indiana a year away, cities and towns around the state will raise the official Indiana Bicentennial Flag in unison on Statehood Day, which is Friday, Dec. 11.
Locally, the City of Greencastle is set to take part with a proclamation reading and flag raising at noon on Friday at City Hall, joining other municipalities across the state.
Indiana became the 19th state in the union on Dec. 11, 1816, making Friday only its 199th birthday. However, with celebrations planned throughout 2016, communities have been provided with the flags and asked to display them through the bicentennial on Dec. 11, 2016.
The Bicentennial Flag was made available to every city and town across the state through the sponsorship from Bicentennial Commission member and philanthropist P.E. MacAllister, MacAllister Machinery and the Association of Indiana Counties.
"It is tremendously important that we take time to honor Indiana's past and recognize the enviable position our state is in moving forward," MacAllister said. "The official Bicentennial Flag and other commemorative items that will soon be available are symbols of what we've accomplished and what is left to come for our state."
Bicentennial Flags have also been made available for individuals to purchase to help celebrate the state's anniversary.
"Hoosiers across the state should fly the commemorative flag as a display of pride throughout this milestone year in Indiana's history," said Perry Hammock, executive director of the Indiana Bicentennial Commission. "Thanks to the generosity of P.E. MacAllister and others, I expect to see the Bicentennial Flag waving in every corner of the state."
The white flag boasts the Indiana Bicentennial logo in the blue and yellow of the Indiana State Flag. Bicentennial flags are available in full size at 3 by 5 feet and in miniature at 4 by 6 inches. They can be purchased by all Hoosiers at the Indianapolis office of the Indiana Historical Bureau and online at the IHB website, just in time for the holiday shopping season.
The Indiana Bicentennial Commission is a 15-member body, chaired by former Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman and former U.S. Congressman Lee Hamilton, charged with overseeing the planning and execution of a statewide celebration for Indiana's 200th birthday. First Lady Karen Pence serves as Official Bicentennial Ambassador.
Indiana's 2016 bicentennial celebration aims to honor our state's 200 years of history, and do so in a way that engages all Hoosiers and leaves a lasting legacy for future generations. The commission encourages every community in Indiana to take part in this unique celebration.