With American flags waving and their own department banners unfurled, firehouses in New York State have often marked major moments in their histories. Those flags have also, at times, caused controversy. Fire Deaths A melancholy example of the use of Old Glory and fire department flags dates back to 1854, when several firemen died in… continue
Firefighters, like other Americans, love flags, but that doesn’t mean they’re always ready to rescue one. As an example, take the curious case of a banner that flew away a century ago. An American flag outside the Grand Army of the Republic post in Springfield, Massachusetts, was blown off its mast by a strong windstorm… continue
The conclusion of the four-year-long 150th anniversary of the Civil War is a good time to remember how some firemen put down their hoses to pick up flags and firearms. In the spring of 1861, when southern states began to secede, The New York Times reported that “the extreme danger to which the Federal Capital… continue