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Newtown Will Wave The Largest Flag

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Newtown Will Wave The Largest Flag

By Steve Bigham

The largest American flag in the United States is coming to Newtown for the Labor Day Parade.

Parade organizers say they were looking for something special to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the town’s biggest event. The flag, measuring 45 feet by 90 feet, was perfect.

“It’s supposed to bring tears to your eyes it’s so big,” said excited parade organizer Kym Stendahl this week.

Now the hard part is figuring out where to hang the massive Stars and Stripes. Some have suggested hanging the flag over The Pleasance or directly over the road at the intersection of Main Street, Sugar Street, and Glover Avenue.

“What we’re thinking is that the parade will start, go down Main Street, stop, a band plays the Star Spangled Banner and the flag will be unfurled. It’s supposed to knock your socks off,” Mrs Stendahl said.

Of course, a flag that size (4,050 square feet) will require a crane and Lt David Lydem of the Newtown Police Department is looking into getting one.

Newtown resident Mary Ann Murtha was instrumental in bringing the giant flag to Newtown. She had seen it hanging above the street in years past at the annual Falmouth Road Race in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. That race is taking place this weekend and the flag is expected to be there.

Two other flags commemorating World War II are also due to arrive for the parade. The flags were commissioned by former President George Bush and raised by then Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney at Pearl Harbor about 10 years ago. Since then, the flags have been raised at every World War II battlefield and are currently on their way back from Normandy.

“This flag company normally limits where it goes to places like Mt Rushmore. They’re very selective where they go. This is such an honor that they said yes to come here,” Mrs Stendahl said.

This year’s parade theme is “Let’s Celebrate Newtown’s Natural Beauty.” Parade marshals are locals Al Goodrich and Mary Mitchell, a couple of trailblazers of sorts. They may best be known for the creation of the Newtown Trails Book and Touring Newtown’s Past, two books that have helped enlighten people about some of Newtown’s lesser-known natural treasures.

Both in their 80s, these two adventurers have often been seen together marking trails in the back woods, documenting old houses, or enjoying their shared passion for photography and travel.

Parade organizers are looking for any local business who might be interested in sponsoring the flag or the crane. For more information, call Kym Stendahl at 270-1805.

Putting on a parade like the one Newtown puts on each year costs money. To help, send your donation to Fleet Bank, c/o Brian Amey, 6 Queen Street. Make your checks payable to the “Labor Day Parade.”

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