Take part in history – take a photo with the historic flag chest that held the giant Mount Rushmore flag on its many travels throughout the world. Now the chest is ending its two million mile journey and is retiring from the road.
Halifax, Hanson, and area residents are invited to be part of the final steps in its incredible journey. Shown here is the chest on board the U.S.S. Constitution. The crew are regular Navy seamen, wearing authentic 1812 era uniforms.
This final tribute to the magnificent 900-pound treasure is sponsored by the Halifax Council on Aging and the Halifax Historical Society. Sunday, Oct. 15, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. show your support for local history at 12 Dwight St., at the Ivy Cottage, Scout’s Rest, Monponsett. Bring your cell phone or camera and take a photo with the beautiful chest before it leaves Halifax. The chest was designed and built in Halifax by master craftsman George Sturtevant of Halifax. Sturtevant gathered cherry wood from each town in Plymouth County to build the chest and assure that each town would be represented. The chest was originally commissioned by the United States Department of the Interior, National Park Service, to be used intergovernmentally by the United States for official ceremonies both here and around the world, starting with a presidential ceremony at Mount Rushmore on July 4, 1987, for the 50th year re-dedication of the Lincoln figure.
The chest was dedicated at the Kennedy Presidential Library, and stored for a time aboard the U.S.S. Constitution. It was taken to sea aboard America’s Tall Ship, the Eagle. It has been in all 50 states, all the Canadian Maritime Provinces including the island of Newfoundland, as well as British Columbia, and the Northwest Territories. It was rescued by airlift from a remote airstrip in the Yukon where it was carried as part of a winter expedition to the Arctic Circle in February.
This chest was carried to the top of Pike’s Peak, and taken to the top of Mount Washington, aboard the cog railroad. It was a centerpiece at a presidential ceremony inside a volcano high above Honolulu, has crossed three continents, crossed the English Channel four times, crossed the North Sea from Holland to England, crossed the Pacific Ocean four times, the Atlantic Ocean twice, visited several kingdoms and palaces, including Buckingham Palace, the World Court in the Hague, Netherlands. It has crossed the Equator twice from the Great Barrier Reef to the Coral Sea, New Zealand, the Soloman Islands., Guam to Japan, completing a 10-year tour of the Battlefields of World War II. It even spent the night in Sherwood Forest!.
Now the chest is being called back to the Dept. of the Interior. The giant flag that it carried throughout the world is being retired. Final plans to see the chest into the next stage of its service are not yet confirmed.
On Flag Day, in 1987, when the chest was dedicated, thousands of people walked behind an authentic 1890 firewagon drawn by two white Percheron horses as they made their way to the waiting train. Route 58 was closed to traffic to allow people to walk the half-mile journey to the Monponsett train station.
The train, provided by the Bay Colony Railroad, brought the chest to the Kennedy Presidential Library in Boston to be dedicated, after making several stops along the way.
Sunday, Oct. 15, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. stop by the Ivy Cottage at 12 Dwight St., Scout’s Rest, Monponsett. There is no charge, just an opportunity to touch a part of history before it is gone.

Fred Corrigan
Special to the Express
Tropical Depression Lee cancelled out the Halifax Farmers’ Market on Sept.16, but there is great weather forecast for this Saturday, Sept. 30.
The area around the Town Hall will be jumping with activity from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. with the Farmers Market, and the “Art is the Essence of the Heart” art show in the Town Hall Great Room.
The art show will include displays by the COA Painters, Halifax Elementary School Art, Quilters, Jewelry, Wood Carvings, Paintings, Pressed Flower Creations and more.
Come support the vendors, enjoy the art, bring the family and help to support the Halifax Helping Hands Food Pantry. This food pantry helps Halifax and Plympton citizens, and the vendors’ fees help to support the food bank. A win, win situation.
Thank you for your support!