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Preble County, Ohio (U.S.)

image by Phil Nelson, 9 November 2003
source: an image at The Flag Lady's Flag Store

Description of the flag

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Description of the flag

From http://www.pal-item.com/news/stories/20030104/localnews/709395.html (no longer available):

Eaton man designs Preble County flag
Patriotic: New flag will fly at statehouse
By Hali Cartee, Staff writer

EATON, Ohio -- One day this year Travis Lee plans to take a trip to the Statehouse in Columbus, Ohio. Not for a history lesson but to witness a history of his own making. A design by Lee, 20, of Eaton, was chosen as the design for the official Preble County flag. Flag designs were submitted in a countywide contest last summer. The flag is to fly at the state's capitol along with the other 88 county flags for this year's bicentennial celebration. "It is a great honor," Lee said. "Not only did I design something that would fly at the statehouse but it is something to represent the county."

The predominantly blue 3 foot by 5 foot flag has many symbols representing Preble County. Lee said the flag's color scheme - which also includes white, yellow, green and red - related to the United States and Ohio flags. It also includes:

Twelve stars around the seal to represent the townships.
Robert Bridge, the oldest double-barreled covered bridge in the United States, representing the county's other covered bridges.
The seal depicts the county's agricultural roots through fields and the pork industry with two swine.
Reflects history with a silhouette of Fort St. Clair.
Clustered apple, corn stalk, sheaf, musket, powder horn, coonskin cap and lance to illustrate the county's frontier heritage.

Lee said the design evolved from his first conception but never really changed. "I worked on it for about two weeks," Lee said. "My grandparents were helpful in the brainstorming." He used his talents as an artist to put the themes together. Lee is in his third year of pursuing a bachelor's degree in graphic design at the University of Cincinnati. Commissioner Stan Spencer said the flag is a symbol to the county. "We've needed one for some time," Spencer said. "The flag is a symbol that tells others who you are and what you stand for."

The county has had an unofficial flag since 1976. It was designed for the United States bicentennial but was never formally adopted. The new design will eventually be incorporated for use on the county's Web site and document seal.

Lee's flag reached the county commissioners after a countywide competition. Seventeen entries were given to the Preble County Historical Society. From there the public voted on the entries during a bicentennial bell-casting event in July. The top three entries were shown to the commissioners, who made the final decision. Jane Lightner, president, said the historical society was proud to sponsor the contest. "We wanted to be involved in maintaining the historical integrity of the county in the flags," Lightner said. The recently completed flag by The Flag Lady's Flag Store in Columbus was presented to the county on Friday. One was also presented to Lee to take home. Connie Crowell, assistant county administrator, said the flag would be flown at the courthouse and other county offices. The county ordered 25 flags. The public may also buy the flag. The cost is $65 per flag and they can be bought at the commission office.

located by Dov Gutterman, 4 January 2003