Flags

In April, third-grader Ellie Bare entered and won first place in the Pride and Patriotism Art Contest sponsored by Eagles Club 1136 of Brunswick, Md. The prize was $50 and the chance to go on to the national contest. In September, she placed first in the nation for her drawing of an American flag inside the United States with people holding hands surrounding the country. The contest was held for students in grades three to six. Ellie won $200 on the national level. She is also interested in photography.

Several years ago, the descendants of the men who were members of the Irish Brigade from New York and Massachusetts who fought at Antietam during the Civil War asked the Boy Scouts to place flags on the graves at the National Cemetery. Recently, members of Troop 19 in Waynesboro, Pa., paid honor to these soldiers by placing U.S. flags on the graves of 30 Irish Brigade members. The Scouts visited other grave sites at the cemetery and learned of the history of the battle and the significance of remembering fallen soldiers.

Extremely dry conditions and windy weather caused the issuance Wednesday of a Red Flag Warning because of an "explosive" fire threat in 13 counties, including Washington and Frederick counties, according to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Fire officials urged people to be careful with any outdoor burning, and they said the smallest spark could start a fire under the current conditions. There were several brush fires Wednesday in Washington County, and about eight acres of cut cornfield burned off Leitersburg Pike and Herman Myers Road.

Treasured memories. That's what the Clear Spring 9-10 All-Stars will gain when their latest Little League experience unfolds this weekend. Nine straight wins have put championship flags for District 1 and state titles in Clear Spring -- flags that will eventually hang from the poles at its Little League complex. Clear Spring carries the Maryland banner, beginning its journey at reaching another goal of winning the Eastern Regional on Sunday in an 11 a.m. contest against Delaware in pool play competition.

BAGHDAD (AP) -- Al-Qaida briefly planted its flag in Baghdad on Thursday as militants killed 23 members of Iraq's security forces across the country in a combination of shootings and roadside bombs demonstrating the dangers the country still faces. The worst attack came in Baghdad's Sunni neighborhood of Azamiyah when 16 Iraqi security forces were killed by what appeared to have been coordinated strikes by al-Qaida militants, who then planted their flag close to the blood-soaked site.

BERKELEY SPRINGS, W.Va. -- The design for the flag that will fly in front of the new Morgan County Courthouse was announced Thursday. Local resident Linda Caldwell created the design, which was named the winner after a drawing by county clerk Debra Kesecker. "I'm in shock. I'm absolutely thrilled," Caldwell said Thursday after learning her design was selected. "Things like this don't happen to me. " Caldwell's design and the design submitted by Doug Hoyt each received 289 votes, county administrator Jody McClintock said during Thursday's Morgan County Commission meeting.

HAGERSTOWN -- One year younger than the nation it symbolizes, Old Glory celebrated its 233rd birthday Monday with a small gathering in University Plaza and a performance by a veteran of the event, 10-year-old Abigail Nigh. "She gets better every year," Hagerstown Mayor Robert E. Bruchey II said after Nigh sang Irving Berlin's "God Bless America" before a group of about 40 participants and spectators at the Flag Day ceremony. "I think it's four times," Abigail said when asked how many times she has performed at Flag Day. Nigh was one of two young singers at the ceremony.

BERKELEY SPRINGS, W.Va. -- The public will decide which flag design will fly over the new courthouse now that the Morgan County Commission has selected three finalists. Last week, each commissioner chose one designfrom 24 entries. The names of the artists were not revealed to them and will not be revealed until the contest is over. Public voting for the design of the flag that will fly in front of the courthouse runs through July 14, Commission President Brenda J. Hutchinson said.

FLINTSTONE, Md. (AP) -- Maryland State Police say a blood-covered woman flagged down a State Highway Administration worker after surviving a crash that killed three others on an interstate highway in the western Maryland mountains. Trooper First Class Justin Buskirk said it's not clear when the car ran off Interstate 68 or how long the woman had been seeking help before the road worker and a passing motorist spotted her around 8 a.m. Tuesday near Rocky Gap State Park. She was flown to Western Maryland Regional Medical Center in Cumberland.

WILLIAMSPORT -- A Marine Corps flag now flies along Interstate 81, in honor of a local Marine deploying to Afghanistan and as a reminder of all the men and women still fighting overseas. Scott and Michelle Kretzer wanted to raise a flag in honor of their son, Lance Cpl. Jorden Meyers, who will be deployed to Afghanistan next week. "It's so hard to be so proud and so sad at the same time," Michelle Kretzer said of her son during a ceremony Friday in the D.M. Bowman Business Park.