In the beginning, there was one flag.
It was the biggest in the state, perhaps the biggest in the country — or at least close to it.
And its 1997 installation in the center of Winnsboro led to an identity, something that previously evaded the small northeast Louisiana city.
Before that, Winnsboro simply was known as the governmental seat for the Louisiana parish named for American Founding Father Benjamin Franklin. That fact, alone, is a patriotic mark of distinction.
The northeast Louisiana City of Winnsboro, nicknamed the “Stars and Stripes Capital of Louisiana” for its display of 160 American flags along its main highway, U.S. 425. Staff video by Robin Miller
But the center of the city’s focus transitioned from its courthouse status to everything red, white and blue when that mammoth star-spangled banner was hoisted up a 130-foot pole along La. 15. It measured 40 by 75 feet, weighed 120 pounds and stood at the center of Patriot Square, the small grassy park bordering Winnsboro’s downtown area.
More flags followed
A collection of standard-size flags were installed along the 2-mile stretch of highway the following year, then more, finally adding up to 160. This prompted Gov. Buddy Roemer’s 1991 gubernatorial proclamation recognizing Winnsboro as the “Stars and Stripes Capital of Louisiana.”
The city’s star-spangled welcome signs say as much from either direction on La. 15, where its patriotic display now flies in full force in celebration of the country’s 250th. That is, without the original flag that jump-started what has become a tradition.
Winnsboro’s welcome signs alerts travelers that they’re driving through ‘The Stars and Stripes Capital of Louisiana.’
“Hurricane Laura ripped the original flag, and the VFW had to retire it,” said Susan Ellington, director of Winnsboro’s Old Post Office Museum.
The storm unleashed its wrath on Louisiana in August 2020. A quick internet search produces photos of the torn flag flapping in two separate pieces on the pole as if playing out its own defiant verse of the national anthem: “That our flag was still there.”
If any Louisiana city knows how to celebrate America’s 250th birthday, it’s Winnsboro.
It flew until September 2020, when an identical flag was raised in its place. It’s the same flag that reigns over present-day Winnsboro.
The largest American flag in Louisiana as seen from Winnsboro’s Prairie Street downtown.
Begins in mid-1990s
But this story begins in the mid-1990s with the vision of former mayor Billy Cobb, combined with fundraising efforts by Marian Johnson, initiated what became the Oakley Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution’s “Salute to Old Glory Project.”
Johnson was the organization’s treasurer. She also chaired the project, which raised $25,000 through donations from local businesses, organizations and even school children collecting nickels and pennies in plastic jars.
According to the Franklin Sun’s September 2020 article recounting the flag’s history, the Dettra Flag Co. Inc., of Oaks, Pennsylvania, was commissioned to make the flag.
“Made of 200 denier nylon manufactured by DuPont under the trade name Solar Max Nylon, the flag, one of two commissioned for the project, required about four weeks of completion, involving approximately 25 hours of sewing alone,” the article states.
The largest American flag in Louisiana stands in the center of Patriot Square in Winnsboro. This flag is identical to the first large flag, which was hoisted up the 130-foot flagpole in 1997.
Matt Conway, Dettra’s director of sales, told the Sun that the flag was one of the biggest ever made by the company. It was placed in Patriot Square, where 250 tons of concrete were poured into a 25-foot-deep hole centered with the pipe to hold the flagpole in place.
“The pole was delivered in three sections and was welded together before being stood up in one piece by a 60-foot crane,” the Sun article continues.
A prayer brought a breeze
“There was no wind blowing that day,” said Sandra Woods, Winnsboro’s Old Post Office Museum’s guide. “So Marian Johnson said a prayer, and when she finished, a breeze started blowing, and the flag started waving.”
The Old Post Office Museum occupies the restored 1937 post office building on Prairie Street in downtown Winnsboro. It’s usually the starting point for visitors — the place where they can learn the area’s history through local exhibits highlighting stories of the city and its people.
One hundred and sixty flags line a two-mile stretch of La. 15 in Winnsboro. The flags are raised during patriotic holidays and have earned the city’s moniker, ‘The Stars and Stripes Capital of Louisiana.’
For the America 250 celebration, the museum has assembled a red, white and blue display of locally created, flag-themed artwork, featuring flags made of everything from oyster shells to wine corks to fishing bobbers.
Handcrafted quilts serve as backdrops for stars and stripes contributions by church groups, kindergartners and the Franklin Parish Merit program for youth and adults with developmental disabilities. One of those quilts, the “Bicentennial Quilt” crafted by resident Majorie Elrod, includes embroidered signatures of noted American figures.
“All of our changing exhibits have been dedicated to America 250 this year,” Ellington said. “Even our Christmas exhibit had an America 250 theme.”
One hundred and sixty flags line a two-mile stretch of La. 15 in Winnsboro. The flags are raised during patriotic holidays and have earned the city’s moniker, ‘The Stars and Stripes Capital of Louisiana.’
A different schedule
But the flags along the highway adhere to a different schedule.
“They’re brought out for different holidays,” Ellington said.
At this time of year, they’re installed at the beginning of summer for Memorial Day and remain up for Flag Day. Then comes the grand finale, Independence Day. They’ll go up again for Veterans Day.
The Bank of Franklin’s small flag adds to the patriotic spirit of Winnsboro as the largest American flag in Louisiana waves in the background.
Still, the highway flags bear their own significance.
“The year after the big flag was dedicated, people were asked to bring the flags that were draped over the coffins of their loved ones who were veterans to the VFW,” Woods said. “There were only six flags that first year. After that, a lot of people brought their loved ones’ flags.”
Which means Winnsboro’s veterans’ flags are among the 160. They’re maintained by the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3165, who also displayed them on the Louisiana State Capitol grounds for the Jan. 11, 2016, inauguration of former Gov. John Bel Edwards.
And though the flags will come down after the 250th, the big American flag will keep waving in Patriot Square, reminding everyone that they’re passing through the Stars and Stripes Capital of Louisiana.
A walk through the American flag-themed art exhibit, featuring works by local artists, in the Old Post Office Museum in Winnsboro, Louisiana. The northeast Louisiana city is known as the “Stars and Stripes Capital of Louisiana” because of its line of 160 American flags along U.S. 425, its main highway. Staff video by Robin Miller
