September 15
Mother of the Illinois Flag Carl Sandburg wrote about the family who lived at 590 North Prairie Street in his autobiography, Always the Young Strangers. He delivered the Galesburg newspaper there and had watched the very large sandstone house as it was being erected in the early 1890s. He had heard the house cost $80,000 (equal to more than $2 million in today's money), the most expensive house in Galesburg up to that time. George A. and Ella Park Lawrence lived in the house with their family. They had five children, but only one, Rebecca, lived to adulthood. George was an attorney and supervised the thousands of acres of farm land his wife had inherited. In 1890 a woman's patriotic lineage society was organized in Washington, DC. It was named the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution. Mrs. Lawrence had eight ancestors who served in the Revolutionary War. In 1901, a chapter was formed in Galesburg. It was named after one of Mrs. Lawrence's ancestors, Rebecca Parke. Mrs. Lawrence became regent of the chapter in 1906 and served for five years. The members of the chapter felt she was very capable and campaigned to elect her as regent of the state organization. She was elected in 1911 and served three years. Mrs. Lawrence was always very patriotic and loved the American flag. She presented flags to schools and organizations for memorizing “America” and “The Star Spangled Banner.” On September 16, 1913, Mrs. Lawrence, as State Regent, dedicated a flagpole from which an American flag and DAR pennants flew on top of Starved Rock. This limestone promontory on the Illinois River in LaSalle County has special significance in early Illinois history. It was used by Indian and French explorers as a fort and gathering place. It is a unique feature in the geography of the state. Only two years before, the State of Illinois had purchased the land for a park. It was the second state park established after Fort Massac in southern Illinois. Thousands visit Starved Rock every year to enjoy the scenery and unusual geologic features. During her term as state regent, Mrs. Lawrence attended NSDAR's Continental Congress in Washington, DC. She observed there was no flag representing Illinois on display in Constitution Hall at the national headquarters. Upon her return home she asked permission from the current state regent to conduct a campaign to secure an Illinois state flag. She began writing to the DAR Chapters in the state and public officials. A contest was held for an appropriate design for a state flag. A member of the Rockford Chapter submitted the winning design. On July 6, 1915, the General Assembly approved a bill creating an Illinois flag with the state seal on it. The prototype of the flag is now displayed in the Courthouse in Knoxville, Illinois. Mrs. Lawrence became known as the mother of the Illinois flag. On September 18, 2014, Pamela Petersen Bork, the State Regent of the Illinois DAR, will dedicate a new flag pole on top of Starved Rock. Power from a solar panel will illuminate the United States and Illinois flags. Note: The word “Illinois” was added to the flag in 1969.
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