American Revolution Flag Display

My name is Ken Molzahn, along with my wife Sue, we would like you to be aware of a project we have begun. It was a joke to begin with; as Sue asked me why I collected American Revolutionary Era Flags. My reply was to fly them someday (verse hang them in the basement now; but I did use them in my classroom) hence the “genesis” of the idea to erect over 30 flag poles (20 and 24 feet high) to commemorate the Birth of our Nation and the everyday heroes that fought and died for Our Liberty and Independence along our 1/8 of a mile driveway on U.S. Highway 54 (approximately three miles west of Collins, MO/Hwy 13).

 To-date eight flagpoles are up with the remaining 26 (likely more) hopefully going up on or before July 4, 2018. [* - Indicates current flags flying]

A total of 58 Flags are planned to be flying before July 4, 2018 (if possible). They  include:

                Stars/Stripes: Betsy Ross, Bennington/76er, Hopkinson, Cowpens, French-American Alliance, Yorktown Simcoe*, and Yorktown Bauman*.

                Protest/Militia Flags: Son’s of Liberty (9-vertical), Son’s of Liberty (13-horizontal)*, Gadsden, Taunton* and the Bedford, Culpeper, Delaware, Forster, Hanover and Newbury Militia Flags.

                British and Colonial Flags: King’s Colors*, British Red Ensign*, and Grand Union

                Battlefield Flags: Bunker Hill (Red), Continental, Ft. Moultrie, White Plains, Brandywine, Monmouth,  and Guilford Courthouse.

                Military Campaign Flags: Green Mountain Boys ( a.k.a. Republic of Vermont, Ft. Ticonderoga & Canadian Campaign), George Rodgers Clark (Ohio/Illinois Campaign)  and Sullivan’s (Iroquois) Campaign and Washington’s Headquarters Flag (Winter Quarters - Valley Forge/Morristown)

                American Regimental/Battalion Colors: (these will fly below battlefield flag/pole each unit saw major action in) 2nd SC Regt, 2nd Conn Regt, 1st Continental Regt, 1st Canadian Regt (Congress’s Own Regiment), Philadelphia Light Horse, Proctor’s Battalion, 10th Mass Regt, 2nd NH Regt, Gansevoot Regt/Flag, 1st Penn Regt, Westmoreland Battalion, 2nd Regt Continental Light Horse, 1st Vir Regt, Gostelowe Regt,  and Morgan’s Rifles

                African-American Units Colors: Bucks of America and Rhode Island Regt

                Native American Ally: The Oneida Nation

                Spanish - French Allies Colors: Spanish Louisiana (i.e., Battle of St Louis) and Royal Flags of France* and Spain*

                French Regimental Flags: Regt. de Soissonnais, Regt Touraine, Regt. Bourbonnais, Regt. d’Agenois, Regt. de Gatinais, Regt. Deux-Ponts(Royal), and Regt. Saintonge ( All the Yorktown Regiments)

 With more research Sue will be sewing other regimental flags or as they become available commercially  they will be purchased and added through time.

We have been in contact with the Missouri Department of Tourism with their promise to have a photographer shoot the “Flags of America’s Birth and Revolution” [ First lame title attempt -  any suggestions?] and add our display to there ‘Points of Interest’ on their  tourism website.

We have also applied for a Guinness World Record under the category of “largest collection of related items” and since this is a collection which could be added to (i.e., beaten with more era flags erected by someone/group) and “flag” is a category they keep records on we are hopeful that we may be awarded the world record with whatever proof is required.

As I hinted above, I was a high school social studies/history teacher and do plan on outreach to the local school districts this coming fall term for on-site class visits and I’m in the process of developing a  PowerPoint presentations for the American Legion local chapters, local/ county historical societies and anyone else interested to invite me (and listen) to the background, interesting individuals and tidbits concerning each flag. The flags/poles will be displayed  chronologically from the beginning of the protest toward British policies, i.e., Sons of Liberty nine striped flag to Yorktown and Lord Cornwallis’s surrender.   

 We have carefully planned our endeavor as the following Master Plan shows:

    MASTER PLAN FOR AMERICAN REVOLUTION FLAG DISPLAY

Purpose: Our flag displays premier intention is to honor the brave citizens who took up arms against King George III and the mightiest army and navy since the time of legions of the Roman Empire. The majority of the flags to be displayed are unknown to the vast majority of 21st century modern American society, but through there waving the major events and battles for our independence can be presented chronologically in an awe-inspiring manner.

Location: Sue and Ken Molzahn reside at 6120 SE Highway 54, Collins, MO 64738  [Link to map if needed]

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Photo #1 A Google Earth™ screenshot of 6120 SE Highway 54, Collins, MO 63748. Note the long driveway to our home is the location the flagpoles will be installed.

At the exit of the driveway is US Highway 54 and approximately a block south of our driveway is Cty Trk Hwy PP. The fields north and south of the driveway are each approximately 6.1 acres. We are in the process, working with the Missouri [MO] Department of Conservation, to convert both parcels to natural prairie/quail habitat. The land conversion plan is a 2-year endeavor but upon completion the various wildflowers should provide a continuous floral display from spring until late fall making a picturesque backdrop.

Phase One: The Master Plan has been divided into two different phases. Phase One begun in December 2017 and due mainly to weather and frost in the soil we concentrated on the attaching flagpoles to the existing ranch-style gate and fence structure [east end of driveway] nearest to US Hwy 54. Sue named her homestead “Red Oak” for which there are many in the 40 acres of oak-hickory forest and makes up vast majority of her 52 acres.  At the opposite end of the driveway [western end] flagpoles were attached to the wooden corner fence posts for the northern and southern acreage. The plan calls for ten flag poles total to utilize the existing wooden fence posts. To date a total of eight flag poles have been attached to the wooden post structures; with four flags at the eastern/gate entrance and four at the western/driveway end [exit].



Photo #2 View looking west from US Hwy 54 through the “Red Oak” ranch gate. A second pair of poles will be added on the end fence posts both north and south to make a total of six at the “Red Oak” gate.



 Photo #3 Current four flagpoles [looking east] flying. A backside view of the “Red Oak” gate. The last pair of flag poles to be added to include flags of the three Native American tribes indigenous to southwestern Missouri – Osage, Oto-Missouria and Quapaw.



Photo #4 The western end of the driveway has four flagpoles attached to the wooden field corner post, two on each side of the road.



Photo #5 The completed end of the Master Plan with the Yorktown Simcoe/Bauman flags flying.

Phase Two: We are beginning phase two in April 2018. The plan entails erecting flagpoles on the north and south sides of the driveway. The number [currently] to be installed are 22 flag poles, 11 per side of the driveway and staggered to ensure the best possible viewing from any direction.

Historical Chronology of the Flag Display:  The history being told or rather displayed are divided into two motifs:  I) The Early History of Southwestern Missouri and II) The Flags That Gave Birth to America.

Each flag pole is [will be] assigned an alphabetical letter with “A” being the earliest and “BB” being the current 21st century. Each flagpole will represent either: a period of time [e.g., The King’s Colors fly over the American Colonies from the 17th century until 1783] or an event such as a battle or campaign [e.g., Bedford Militia Flag represents April 19, 1775].

I)                    The Early History of Southwestern Missouri Flag Poles

‘A’ – Osage Tribal Flag (flag pole not erected). Future location next to ‘C’ the French Royal and New France flags (see photo #2) closest to US Hwy 54

‘B’ – Oto-Missouria Flag [top] and Quapaw [bottom] tribal flags (flag pole not erected). Future location next to ‘D’ the 16th- 18th century Spanish Royal Flag and the Cross of Burgundy. As ‘A’ was ‘B’ will be closest to the highway and recognizes the first indigenous tribes in this area.

‘C’ – French Royal Flag (Blue) [top] and the Flag of New France (white) [bottom]. Represents the first European contacts and the first French settlement at St Louis. (Photos #2 and 3)

‘D’ – Spanish Royal Flag [top] and the Cross of Burgundy [bottom] represents the Spanish control of Louisiana (and Missouri) post Seven Years War onward through the American Revolution Era.

‘EE’ – The Star-Spangled Banner This is the last flag on the north side of the driveway. It represents the famous date when Lewis and Clark raised the US Flag of St Louis prior to beginning their Voyage of Discovery. (Photo # 4)

‘FF’ – Old Glory – This 50-star US flag flew over my son-in-law combat bases in Afghanistan during his deployment with the Louisiana National Guard. This flag was given to me as a token of his thanks for helping my daughter through that long year and his knowledge of my love for flags!! Thank You Tylor! (Photo # 5)

The Native American flag poles (‘A’/’B’) will be erected when or if it is possible to locate tribal flags. I have contacted each tribe explaining the display, the historical chronology, and the honor reserved for their flags being the first in line. I requested the donation of a tribal/national flag from each and promised I would immediately erect the flag poles.

 

II)                  The Flags That Gave Birth To America   

‘E’ – King’s Colors [top] and British Red Ensign [Bottom]
       
‘F’ – Son’s of Liberty (9 stripe vertical) [top] and Son’s of Liberty (13 stripe horizontal) [bottom]

‘G’ – Grand Union Flag [top] and Taunton Liberty Flag [bottom]

‘H’ – Bedford Militia [top], Foster Militia [middle], and Newbury Flag [bottom]. Date in history: April 19, 1775. The American Revolution begins on the green at Lexington.

‘I’ – Green Mountain Boys/The Republic of Vermont Flag. Date in history: May 10, 1775. Fort Ticonderoga captured by Ethan Allen and Colonel Benedict Arnold.

‘J’ – Bunker Hill Flag (Red) [top], Continental Flag [middle], 2nd New Hampshire Regt. [bottom].  Date in history: June 17, 1775. First British victory of the American Revolution.

‘K’ – General Sullivan’s Flag [top], COR [middle], The Republic of Vermont [bottom]. Campaign Period: June 1775 to October 1776. These flags commemorate the disastrous attempt to make Canada the 14 colony. The COR flag is the 1st Canadian Regt raised amongst the French-Canadians in British Canada, COR stands for Congress’s Own Regiment. The Republic of Vermont was lead again by Ethan Allen.

‘L’ – Fort Moultrie Flag [top] and 2nd South Carolina Regt [bottom]. Date in history: June 28, 1776, Battle of Sullivan’s Island where the British were defeated attempting to invade South Carolina.

‘M’ – White Plains Flag [top], 2nd Conn Regt. [middle] and Delaware Militia [bottom].  Date in history: October 29, 1776. British victory continued General Washington’s retreat west into New Jersey.

‘N’ – Gansevoot Flag [top], Oneida Nation Flag [bottom]. Dates in history: August 2 – 23, 1777 The siege of Fort Stanwix and the Battle of Oriskany.

‘O’ – Bennington/76er Flag [top], 1st Penn Regt, [middle] and Congress Own Regiment [bottom]. Date in History: August 16, 1777. The Battle of Bennington was an American victory and followed shortly after with the victory at the Battle of Bemis Heights ending General Burgoyne’s Albany (Saratoga) Campaign.

‘P’- Brandywine Flag [top], Philadelphia Light Horse [middle], and 1st Continental Regt [bottom]. Date in history: September 11, 1977. Battle of Brandywine.

‘Q’ – Betsey Ross Flag [top], 2nd Continental Light Horse [middle] and Hanover Militia [bottom]. Date in history: October 4, 1777. Battle of Germantown.

‘R’ – Hopkinson Flag. By order of the Second Continental Congress, in 1777, Francis Hopkinson designed the first “official” United States flag.

‘S’ – Washington’s Headquarters Flag. To commemorate the sufferings of the Winter of 1777-78 at Valley Forge.   

‘T’ – Monmouth Flag [top], Proctor’s Battalion [middle] and 10th Mass Regt [bottom]. Date in history: June 28, 1778. The Battle of Monmouth was the first American draw with the British in the middle colonies.

‘U’ – George Rodger Clark Flag [top] and Spanish Louisiana Flag [bottom]. Dates in history: Summer 1778 to End of War. To celebrate the Conqueror of the Old Northwest and the aid the Spanish Empire gave the rebel forces both in the Mississippi Valley and in present day Alabama and Florida against British forts and territory.

‘V’ – General Sullivan’s Flag [top], Westmoreland Battalion [middle] and 2nd NH Regt [bottom]. Dates in history: Summer 1779. This military expedition ended the Iroquois threat to the frontier regions from New York to Virginia.

‘W’ – Culpeper Militia Flag. Date in history: October 7, 1780. Battle of King’s Mountain patriot victory over British lead Loyalist forces.

‘X’ – Cowpens Flag [top], Morgan’s Rifles [middle], and 1st Virginia Regt [bottom]. Date in history: January 17, 1781. Battle of Cowpens was a badly needed American victory in the Carolinas.

‘Y’ – Guilford Courthouse Flag.

‘Z’ – Bucks of America [top] and Rhode Island Regt [bottom] These are the only known African-American units organized during the American Revolution.

‘AA’ – French Royal Flag [top], Reg’ d’Agenois [second], Reg’ de Gatinais [third], Reg’ Deux-Ponts [fourth]. French regiments that fought beside their American allies.

‘BB’ – French-American Alliance Flag [top], Reg’ Saintonge [second], Reg’ de Soissonnais [third], Reg’ Touraine [fourth] and Reg’ Bourbonnais [fifth]. {Note: Flag poles ‘AA’ and ‘BB’ are 24-foot poles to accommodate the larger number of flags.}

‘CC’ – Yorktown Simcoe Flag

‘DD’ – Yorktown Bauman Flag   

NOTE: All italicized flags list above need to be purchased. All underlined flags Sue Molzahn is sewing.

This display {flag poles ‘E’ to ‘EE’} incorporates nearly every major battle or campaign of the American Revolution and every commercially available American Revolutionary Era flag i.e., US flags, Continental Regimental Colors, and Militia flags. In addition, Sue will be making all nine French Regimental flags and a pair of the COR flags. Finally, all the allies of the American cause will be flown i.e., The Oneida Nation, the Republic of Vermont and the French and Spanish flags.       

Phase Two Projected Costs:

a)       Flagpoles - 22 total. Cost per pole - $40. Total Cost - $880.00

b)      Flags from CRW - $861.00

c)       Flags from Flagguys.com - $882.00

d)      Cement (projected) - $370.00

Total Expenditure: $2,993.00

As stated in the first email any and all donations will be very much appreciated and will be used exclusively for the projects completion.



Photo # 6 and 7 Ken Molzahn and my beloved wife Sue.

So with all this stated (and shown) please make a small donation to support our project! We are both retired and on fixed incomes. We further wish to state we are not in any fashion or form looking to reap a  'dime's worth'profit from this historical display!

This project will be used by local school, veteran associations and you the Citizens of these United States!!! God Bless America!!!

Sincerely,

Ken and Sue Molzahn