Long May She Wave

From sea to shining sea

This flag flies in front of Battery Laidley.

Do you wonder why there are two flags on this page? Do they look exactly alike to you?

Now, count the stars in both flags.

The flag that flies at Battery Laidley has only 45 stars. Do you wonder why? This flag is a replica of the American flag that was flown everywhere in the United States between 1898 and 1907. When the building of Fort de Soto began in 1898, a flag like this one would have been flown.

This flag has only 45 stars, in 3 rows of 8, plus 3 rows of 7, for a total of 45 stars. The reason is that there were just 45 states in the Union at that time.

This is the current flag.

Very few will remember Oklahoma, the state that was admitted to the Union some years before the others. If you were able to name Oklahoma, then you are a real history buff!

Here is the list of states:

• Oklahoma, admitted November 16, 1907
• New Mexico, admitted January 6, 1912
• Arizona, admitted February 14, 1912
• Alaska, admitted January 3, 1959
• Hawaii, admitted August 21, 1959

Next time you come to Fort De Soto Park, do look carefully at the flag in front of the battery and notice it represents a particular period in our history. When you visit any historic site, notice the flag that is flying; it too may represent a special time in America's history.