50 Years Ago

Sunday, July 5, 1970

Hike in flag sales reported in county

If patriotism is going out of style as many fear, it would be difficult to prove by retailers and manufacturers of flags. Flag sales have increased so rapidly during the past few months that production is running about three months behind orders, according to the manager of one of Rome’s leading department stores.

Interest in the flag has zoomed locally as well as nationally, Fred Warren, manager of G.C. Murphy’s department store, reported that about 1,000 flags have been sold during the past few weeks at the Broad Street store. He said these include all sizes from the small 5-by-6 inch flags to the larger 3-by-5 feet flags

Elmo Smith, manager of Gibson’s Discount Center, reported the sale of about 300 3-by-5 feet flags during the past few weeks. He said flag sales have been very good lately, but he had noticed an increase in flag sales over the last three years in other areas before he came to Rome.

A sales employee of Sears Roebuck & Co. of Rome reported the store had sold its entire stock of flags before the Flag Day celebration held in Rome on June 15. The mail order department reported they had received several orders for flag poles which could be fastened to the sides of houses.

The Rome AMVETS Club has been selling and presenting flags since July 1, 1969. Reese Ballard, post commander, said the club has sold and presented approximately 2,000 flags in Floyd County during the past year. He said the club has sold another 1,000 outside the county in other areas of Georgia.

Local store managers reported that manufacturers have been eight weeks to three months behind on production of flags to fill orders. Flag manufacturers have reported a phenomenal growth in business which has never been equaled in the history of their company, according to a local store manager.

The local Flag Day observance generated a great deal of interest in the flag. The Chamber of Commerce has sold about 200 flag sets for the AMVETS since three days before the observance.

Flags were carried by hundreds of participants in the Flag Day parade. Also, it was a common sight to see flags flying from homes in many neighborhoods.

Thursday, July 9, 1970

Postage due

Concord, N.H. (UPI) – Gov. Walter Peterson’s office had to shell out six cents Wednesday to read a letter from Gov. Claude R. Kirk of Florida.

The letter, mailed July 2, arrived with a postage due stamp on it. An aide to Peterson remarked, “I guess this is just the height of fiscal economy.”