:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/shawmedia/KGDU6DHLNQPARJ5YOMVYBDWK5I.jpg)
More than 7,500 Sailors stepped into the footsteps of their World War I ancestors as they celebrated Flag Day, June 14, by recreating the Living Flag of Bluejackets, on historic Ross Field.
The original photo was taken in November 1917, on the first anniversary of the establishment of Flag Day and was composed of 10,000 recruits in training.
“Since I arrived here at Great Lakes I have noticed the image from 1917,” said Capt. Caroline M. Olinger, commanding officer of Training Support Center (TSC), Great Lakes. “Our desire was to duplicate the efforts of those Sailors in 1917; recreating history, but also instilling the pride and honor in our Sailors in being part of such a great event.”
With the final rendering to be displayed in black and white like the original, the event was designed to duplicate the original 1917 “Living Flag of Bluejackets,” in which Sailors of the Naval Training Station (now, Naval Station) Great Lakes, participated with photographer Arthur Mole and John D. Thomas in creating a 48-star flag that celebrated the World War I armistice on the parade field in November of 1917.
Mole, who originally used his 11 x 14-inch view, silver-plate camera, staged a series of mass photographic events featuring three of the branches of the military. His work choreographed thousands of military servicemen and women into various formations of national, military and religious symbols.
The 1917 flag was the largest flag of its kind, measuring 293 feet at the top, 73 feet at the bottom, 428 feet at the left and 128 feet on the right. The pole measured approximately 550 feet in length. The human requirements were huge for the time: close to 2,000 Sailors for the red, 3,500 for the blue and at least 1,800 for the 48 stars.
Former Presidents Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft were there to view the results of the undertaking.
According to the Great Lakes Recruit of December 1917, "the 'flag' was laid out according to the law of perspective so that it would resemble an actual flag when photographed at an angle. In order to capture the event on to the silver plate, Mole and Thomas had to build tall towers that overlooked the parade grounds."
Flash forward some 92 years.
Clad in Navy Working Uniforms (NWU) and Summer Dress Whites, enlisted Sailors, Chiefs and officers from TSC , Recruit Training Command and various other commands participated in the contrasted design of the 2010 version of the "Living Flag."
"It was especially remarkable that students and staff from Naval Hospital Corps School and Recruit Training Command and many others joined TSC in the effort, making it a truly Great Lakes event. This was exactly what we wanted," Olinger said. "I think the Sailors have an appreciation for our national heritage. It is important that they understand that being a part of the Navy team is bigger than one individual. They are learning what it means to be a United States Sailor and from the deckplates up this is how we do it."
Although the weather was misty with a low fog, the rain held off long enough to allow for the final shots.
“Being a part of the Living Flag was very humbling experience,” said Master Chief Electronics Technician (SW) Christian D. Detje, who was at the forefront of developing the flag. “A handful of Sailors volunteered to assist the staff in every step of the way, they spent hours of their own time helping us mark the field, setting points for stars and marking the field for the flag. They were really into it, looking up the history of the original Living Flag, best methods of setting up and the real credit goes to the Sailors who were on the field making up the flag.”
As it finally filled in, the representation measured 298 feet at the top, 90 feet at the bottom, 292 feet at the left and 135 feet on the right, with the pole measuring an overall length of 417 feet.
As with the 1917 version, consideration to the perspective of the flag when viewed at a low angle was made at both events. The stars for example, had considerably more Sailors comprising each at the top (farther away) that at the bottom. This allowed the view to appear relatively flat although it was covering almost a sixth of a mile horizontally.
Personnel completing the flag were 190 Sailors for the ball, 620 for the pole, 2900 Sailors in the blue field, 1360 used for red stripes and 1100 Sailors for white stripes, and over 1300 used for the (now 50) stars alone. This equates to over one-third of military personnel assigned to Naval Station Great Lakes.
The importance of the event was not lost of those completing the living flag.
"I enjoyed it a lot, it was a great opportunity. This picture will be part of the heritage of the Navy," said Seaman Eajen Ahmed of Queens, N.Y. "I can show this picture to my children and my grandchildren."
For Seaman Taylor Hudson, who is studying to be an Operations Specialist, be part of the flag was a way to honor those who have gone before him. "It meant a lot to me to do this, I am really proud to be part of the living flag and to serve in the Navy."
Olinger commended "Master Chief [Electronics Technician (SW)] Christian D. Detje, Chief [Electronics Technician (SW)] Michael J. Boyd, Chief [Gas Turbine Systems Electrics (SW)] David C. Smith and Chief [Engineman (SW)] Scott M. Lane of TSC for being at the forefront of the development and implementation of the Living Flag event.
"My deep appreciation goes out to all the commands and these fine examples of the Khaki community for pulling this off," Olinger said.
Detje commented that “These Sailors were really into it; looking into the history of the original Living Flag and the best methods of it setting up. The real credit, however, goes to the Sailors who were on the field making up the flag.”
"Some of our Sailors were on the field for almost 4 1/2 hours. Both times we practiced on the field it was hot and humid, then after a night of closely watching the weather, we had a foggy morning for the event. Visibility was so bad we couldn't see the tip of the flag and we started to have our doubts if we could pull it off. Then, like a divine intervention, the fog lifted and we got our photos. It looked to me like the Sailors from 1917 wanted this photo taken to keep their memories and legacy moving on."
"The flag represents a living country and is itself considered a living thing." United States Code Title 4 Chapter 1 - The Flag, Section 8j.
As the Code states, the American Flag does live. And in this case with actual humans being the very fabric of the National Ensign, it is all the more true.
In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation that officially established June 14 as Flag Day; in August 1949, National Flag Day was established by an Act of Congress.
Training Support Center (TSC) Great Lakes is the only training command located within the same vicinity as Boot Camp and is the home of six learning sites operated independently. The command supports 90% of the Surface Navy Schools and averages 16,000 student throughputs per year.
For information on Training Support Center Great Lakes and Learning Sites, visit: https://www.netc.navy.mil/centers/tscgl/ on the web.