From Historic Port of Washington Project

Gene Oakley, accomplished local historian, speaker and model steam-engine builder and demonstrator (featured at Marine Market and other local events) will present a talk on the history of the North Carolina and early United States flags. The event will be held Thursday, from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in the auditorium of the North Carolina Estuarium, located at 223 E. Water St. in downtown Washington. The Historic Port of Washington Project will be sponsoring this event along with the Estuarium.

Oakley will welcome the curious and reveal the real story behind the symbols on our flags. Do you know why the North Carolina state flag has a lone star on a blue field and is only one of two state flags displaying those identical symbols? Did North Carolina’s early revolutionaries really write the first Declaration of Independence, before Thomas Jefferson, and if so, what happened to it? Did Betsy Ross truly sew our first 13-star national flag? And in what way did she play “Helen of Troy” to General George Washington and complicate his war effort at the Battle of Trenton?

Find out by coming to hear Oakley. Because seating is limited to 60, you are advised to call the Estuarium at 252-948-000 to reserve a seat. Seating will be on a first-come-first-served basis. The talk is free to the public, but donations are welcome.