The Colton Liberty Flag is an

American flag The national flag of the United States, often referred to as the American flag or the U.S. flag, consists of thirteen horizontal Bar (heraldry), stripes, Variation of the field, alternating red and white, with a blue rectangle in the Canton ( ...

which was flown continuously over Mount Slover in Colton, California, United States. The flag was first raised and illuminated by the California Portland Cement Company (later CalPortland) as part of an

Independence Day An independence day is an annual event memorialization, commemorating the anniversary of a nation's independence or Sovereign state, statehood, usually after ceasing to be a group or part of another nation or state, or after the end of a milit ...

celebration in Colton the night of July 4, 1917, as a sign of patriotism during the entrance of the United States into World War I. At the time it was one of only three locations in the United States permitted to fly the flag at night. The flag was removed in 1952. It was replaced in 1987 to commemorate Colton's centennial, but was removed a short time later when high winds damaged the flag pole. The flag was replaced again on February 17, 1997, which was

President's Day Presidents' Day, officially Washington's Birthday at the federal governmental level, is a holiday in the United States celebrated on the third Monday of February. It is often celebrated to honor all those who served as presidents of the United ...

. The flag was removed a final time in April 2012 due to a reduction in cement plant operations caused by the

Great Recession The Great Recession was a period of market decline in economies around the world that occurred from late 2007 to mid-2009.

and the concomitant reduced personnel available to maintain the flag. It is now in the possession of the San Bernardino County Museum.

References

External links

Landmark flag in Colton is retired
at '' The Press-Enterprise'' Flags of the United States Colton, California History of San Bernardino County, California 1917 establishments in California {{US-flag-stub