RED CROSS SERVICE FLAG

In the early days of 1918. when there was a need of workers in the Red Cross Shop. Mrs. Helen Backman suggested a plan to Mrs. Gunnell which she thought would stimulate interest, both in the shop workers and in her Home Department.

Mrs. Backman proposed a huge flag: white cotton cloth was to be the field, with a deep blue border. On this flag were to appear the names of the faithful Red Cross workers. Certain definite hours of work, either in or out of the shop, or service rendered by the women working in the Red Cross Drives, were required in order that a worker’s name might appear. In addition, the small sum of 25 cents was charged. This money was to go towards some special Red Cross work; this work to be specified later.

Committees were named in the city and in the county to take charge of this work. On Nov. I 1. 1919. the finished flag was dedicated and presented to the County Supervisors. Supervisor John A. Johnson of Altona, a war-time Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, accepted the flag, and gave assurance that every effort would be made to preserve it for all time. The Board of Supervisors voted that the flag should be suitably framed and hung near the main entrance of the County Court House.

The flag has 2,535 names embroidered on it. Those in red representing the Senior Chapter workers; those in blue, the Junior Red Cross workers. The money collected amounted to over $500, to be used in furthering the Red Cross Child Welfare work in Knox County.

Following are the names embroidered on the flag: