Flags on Katahdin

            The top of Katahdin is reported to be the first place in the United States to receive the sun’s rays. As such, on July 4th, 1959, members of the Millinocket American Legion’s Donald V. Henry Post joined several Millinocket Boy Scouts from Troop 58 on a climb to Katahdin’s summit. The occasion was to raise a new 49-star American flag representing Alaska’s statehood.

            Present that day on the mountain were members of the American Legion Post and Boy Scout Troop 58. Shown with the flag in the photo are Alfred Jenkins, Everett Barnes, Scoutmaster Herbert Tucker, Frank Perry and Dana Burleigh (holding a small Alaska flag). Boy Scouts shown are Wayne Kidney, Bob Ellis and John Barker. (The museum has a faded news photo of that occasion.)

            The following year, July 4, 1960, a similar ceremony also took place atop Katahdin in honor of Hawaii becoming the 50th state.  A lengthy news article describes that event.

            In 1960, approximately 20 persons (Boy Scouts, men from the VFW, Elks and Chamber of Commerce) participated (Not everyone did the climb). The climb (as in 1959) was timed be at the summit when the sun’s first rays on July 4th were seen in the US. The 1960 weather was not as cooperative as in 1959 as a news article describes. They started the afternoon before (up Abol Trail to the Plateau). They camped overnight amidst dense rain and high winds. Early July 4, some made their way to the summit to raise the new 50-star US flag and a new Hawaii state flag at sunrise (4:56:30 AM). The article states they raised the two flags “in one of the few moments of the early morning that the cloud layer overhanging the mountain lifted. Only a few moments before the sun was set to hit the mountain, a thin but clear red sunrise layer could be seen to the east. When the officials raised the two flags, the horizon had been blanked out by a cloud formation. At the same time, a near gale force wind was blowing at the summit and it required the combined efforts of three men each to maintain the flag staffs in an upright position for only a few minutes.”

            At some point, the 49-star (Alaska) and 50-star (Hawaii) flags were donated to the Millinocket Memorial Library. This was confirmed by a card donated a few years ago by a member of the McCauslin family. It states, “At this time, I would like to present to the Millinocket Memorial Library the first 50-star United States flag to greet the sunrise July 4th, 1960 at the monument peak Mt. Katahdin. I would also like to present the official state of Hawaii flag which was given to Francis E. Elliott Post by Gov. Wm. F Quinn of Hawaii, which also took part in the flag raising ceremony. The Francis E. Elliott Post would be honored to have these placed in the Memorial Room of this Library.”

            The 49-star and 50-star flags were displayed in the Memorial Room of the library for several years until the renovations took place. Since then, it is thought they were given to the town to be displayed at the town office although that information has yet to be confirmed. It is unknown whether the Hawaii state flag was returned to Hawaii to be flown over the governor’s mansion or whether it was displayed at the library with the other two. (If anyone has knowledge of the events or photos or the whereabouts of the flags, contact the Millinocket Historical Society.)