The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1909-08-26
A Unique Flag.
OAKDALE, Iowa, Aug. 40, 1909.

OAkDALE, 1OWA, aug. Az, l0Ub.
Editor Reporter:-l am enclosing .
clipping taken from the Salt Lake
Tribune of August 18th, which l think
will be interesting to your many
readers. On my way back to Oakdale
from Leon last Monday l found tho
train from Des Moines crowded and
was compelled to occupy seat with an
old gentleman. After l had talked to
him a few minutes he showed me plan
Of what l supposed to be sofa pillow,
but it was the plan of silk flag which
will be nine feet square when complet-
ed. He gets his name "Crooked Stick"
Miller from crooked black brier cane
which he carries. Besides the clipping
which he gave me to read he also told
me that the former Mason and Dixon
line was to be represented by the fol-
lowing badges embroidered in bronze,
blue, red and white silk: Badge No. l
on the right, Daughters of Veterans,
No. 4, Ladies' Of the Grand Army, No. 5,
War Veterans and sons, No. 4, Army
Nurses, No. 5, Portrait of Lincoln, No. 6,
Grand Army Of Republic, No. Z, Wo-
mons Relief Corps, No. 8, Sons of Vet
Grams. The silk for this flag was do
mated by the lady presidents of the
w. r. G. Yours Respectfully,
EVA GARDNER.
The clipping is taken from the Salt
Lake City Telegram, of August II, 1909,
during the recent National Encampment
Of the G. A. r., and reads as follows:
After thirty years of badge collect
ing Ludwig r. Miller Familiarity known
as crooked stick" Miller, Of Brooklyn,
4. Y. finished this morning gathering
material for one Of the most wonderful
flags ever made. In the flag are rep
resented the forty-eight states and
territories each with foot square
badge. In 1879 Mr.. Miller became
inflicted with the badge collecting fad
and in order that a good collection Of
interesting emblems might be acquired
he attended every encampment and got
badges from every state. These have
been made into one big silk flag proba-
bly, the most valuable and wonderful
flag of it's kind ever made. On the top
is an embroidered American Eagle rest
ing between the squares in which are
the badger from Alaska and Maine rep.
resenting the farthest north territory
and state of the union. The eagle is
worked in changeable blue silk. In the
center of the whole flag is portrait OF
Lincoln, around this are dates, Lincoln's
birthday is on top in white silk repre-.
senting purity; his inaugural date is in
blue representing loyalty; the date OF
his calling out of the troops is in red
to represent the shedding of blood, the
day Of his death is in golden thread
The whole affair makes the crown Of
glory. On the bottom of the flag is a
bit of small historic flags including
British Union Jack, Washington's flags
the rattlesnake flag Of South Carolina
and the thirteen stars. In another
part OF the group are the flags of the
Philippines, Hawaii, Panama, Porto
Rico and Cuba. Near Lincolns por
trait is flag Of thirty four stars repre-
senting the number of states in the
union when the great emancipation wal
elected president. Opposite tina
thirty-six stars representing the mum
Der Of states in the union at the tim
OF his death. MIR. Miller says that h
now has all the badges he needs. Eli
daughter in Brooklyn is putting tn
finishing touches on the portrait. Wit
that completed and the several badge
gathered in this city, sewed in plac
the mammoth flag will be complete