The United States and Bennington flags have been on display in Washington since spring to give downtown more eye appeal. Now a Washington resident is looking to add some extra flare to downtown.

 

The hope of Inner Banks Artisan owner Bob Henkel and the Washington Harbor District Alliance is to show off all 50 state flags.

 

There are currently 50 United States flags flying in downtown Washington between the current version and the Bennington Flag.

 

The state flags would be on display along Stewart Parkway and extending on to Water Street.

 

“I am the flag guy in town and I came up with the idea of the flags and I am just expanding the flag idea,” Henkel said.

 

However, Henkel and the WHDA is needing a few more donations to complete the project of the state flags in downtown.

 

“We have raised about $1,500 of the $2,000, and the flags are being shipped now,” Henkel said.

 

The state flags will be flown during the major summer holidays, and Henkel is hoping to have some of them display by next weekend.

 

Some of Old Glory’s will be taken down when the state flags are being flown, and there will be roughly 80 flags all together on display, according to Henkel.

 

“I counted the number of light posts, and I thought what would look nice and enhance downtown,” Henkel said. “I thought that would be a tremendous addition as far as the colors and different flags.”

 

Last year, the poles in downtown were used for the Confederate States of America and United States of America flags for the reenactment of the Civil War.

 

In American lore, The Bennington Flag is said to be one of the first flags to lead troops into battle, which was on Aug. 16, 1777 at the Battle of Bennington in Vermont, according to the Bennington Museum.