Colton Liberty Flag facts for kids
The Colton Liberty Flag is a famous American flag. It used to fly all the time over Slover Mountain in Colton, California. This flag was a special symbol of American pride for many years.
The Colton Liberty Flag
Why was the flag first raised?
The Colton Liberty Flag was first put up on July 4, 1917. This was during an Independence Day party in Colton. The California Portland Cement Company (now CalPortland) raised it. They also lit it up at night. This was a way to show patriotism (love for one's country). It happened when the United States was joining World War I. At that time, only three places in the whole U.S. were allowed to fly the flag at night.
When was the flag removed and replaced?
The original flag was taken down in 1952. It was put back up in 1987. This was to celebrate Colton's 100th birthday. But the flag did not stay up for long. Strong winds damaged its pole, so it had to be removed again.
The flag was put up a third time on February 17, 1997. This day was President's Day. The flag stayed up for many years. However, it was taken down for the last time in April 2012. This happened because the cement plant had less work. This was due to a tough economic time called the Great Recession. Fewer people worked at the plant, so there were not enough staff to take care of the flag.
The Colton Liberty Flag is now kept safely at the San Bernardino County Museum.
