Photo By Teodora Mocanu | Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support seamstresses known as the “flag ladies”...... read more read more
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FORT BELVOIR, Va. - Defense Logistics Agency Director Navy Vice Adm. Mark Harnitchek hosted a ceremony July 31 at the McNamara Headquarters Complex to unveil a commemorative “Betsy Ross” flag made by a group of seamstresses at DLA Troop Support known as the “flag ladies.”
Harnitchek praised the ladies’ talents and remarked that their unique skills expand DLA’s capabilities.
“We can make things by the thousands and, then sometimes, we make things one at a time by hand,” he said. “It’s just another great thing that DLA does.”
The 15 seamstresses known as the flag ladies produce official flags for use by the president, vice president and various military units.
Each flag is made according to exact specifications and embroidered completely by hand. The women were commissioned by Harnitchek to create a Betsy Ross-style flag, modeled on the original created during the American Revolution, to represent the strength of DLA’s bond with Philadelphia, said Lisa Vivino, former supervisor of the heraldic branch and flag room in DLA Troop Support. After the flag was completed in early July, they were invited to DLA Headquarters to be part of the official ceremony and recognized for their efforts.
“This was a very unique project,” Vivino said. “We’ve never created something that was of historical origin.”
Vivino said the flag was built from scratch based on drawings and other research and was made with nylon fabric and silk thread. The entire project took six weeks from start to finish, she said.
“We had five ladies that worked on different parts,” Vivino said. “One oversaw the projects, one had to go from the paper size drawing and recreate it into the full-sized piece, and the other ladies did the cutting, sewing and embroidery.”
Vivino explained that the history behind America’s first flag dates back to June 1776, when George Washington and two members of the Continental Congress contacted Betsy Ross’ seamstress shop. Washington commissioned Ross to create the new flag of the nation.
After the ceremony, Harnitchek passed out commemorative coins to each of the seamstresses and thanked them for their service.
The flag will be displayed in a place of significance at DLA Headquarters where it can be viewed by DLA visitors and the workforce.
| Date Taken: | 07.31.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 08.07.2014 14:52 |
| Story ID: | 138612 |
| Location: | FORT BELVOIR, VA, US |
| Web Views: | 104 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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