Original Item. One-of-a-Kind. This is a really tremendous 46-star flag which is tattered along the edges and has two U.S. army shoelaces threading its eyelets, having been the first flag flown over “the largest base hospital in the world” at Fox Hills, which would become Army Debarkation Hospital No. 2, which served & treated the thousands of incoming wounded soldiers from France during World War I. The flag was raised by Captain Francis L. Hagadorn, a wounded veteran of the Spanish-American War and former member of the 7th U.S. Cavalry. 

Included with the flag is a small sheet with the history of the flag, noting that Upon receiving word of the designation, the old soldier ordered his men to raise a flag in honor of the event. However, as no current flag with 48 stars appeared to be available, the zealous Captain could only “use what he had” that being an obsolete and somewhat tattered flag from the 1908-1912 period, measuring approximately 45 inches by 30 inches and adorned with 46 stars. So, threading her eyelets with WWI Army issue shoelaces, Old Glory was attached to a makeshift flagpole and dutifully raised with great ceremony and heartfelt salutes. Years later, Captain Hagadorn donated this flag and other of his wartime and military souvenirs to a now long defunct VFW post.

The note of provenance comes in a small frame measuring 7⅜ x 5⅜” and reads:

First Flag Raised over the
U.S. Base Hospital at Fox Hills
The largest Base Hospital in
The world.
By Capt. F. L. Hagadorn
Comm’d Guards,
March 14, 1918

 This is a truly stupendous piece of history with airtight provenance, a truly service-worn flag which was unofficially raised as the first flag above what became the largest base hospital in the world. The flag is in fair condition with folding creases and tattering at the bottom, which is to be expected for a flag of this age, but the provenance letter mentioned that the flag was already tattering in 1918, so to be in its current condition is truly astounding!

This is a gorgeous flag with some truly phenomenal history, ready for further research and display! This would look phenomenal in a frame!