From Harford County government:
A replica flag of the White Star Lines, the company which operated the R. M. S. Titanic, along with two other Olympic class ocean liners, has been hoisted on a flag pole in front of the Harford County Government Administration Building in Bel Air. The flag was raised in memory and honor of the 100th anniversary of the maiden voyage and subsequent sinking of the Titanic.
The luxury liner, which struck an iceberg and sank, set sail on April 10, 1912 and slipped to a watery grave in the early morning hours of April 15, 1912. The sinking of the Titanic resulted in the deaths of 1,514 passengers and crew members, in one of the deadliest peacetime maritime disasters in history.
The Titanic was built between 1909 and 1911 by the Harland and Wolff Shipyard in Belfast, Ireland. The ship carried 2,224 crew members and passengers.
The White Star Lines flag will fly over the County Administration Building for five days as a tribute to the R.M.S. Titanic and those who lost their lives at sea 100 years ago this week.
“This week we take time to reflect on one of the world’s most infamous disaster, the sinking of what was believed to be an unsinkable ship,” stated County Executive David R. Craig. “The Titanic was in many ways a perfect reflection of society at that time. May the world never forget the terrible lessons learned as a result of the loss of the Titanic,” Craig remarked.
The White Star Lines flag was donated by a local citizen.
So if I buy a flag and donate it to Harford County Government, I can get it flown at the administration building and have a group of people watch the raising of the flag. My dog died about 11 months ago and I would like to have a flag flown, at the administration building, and have a group of people watch it go up. Looks like that is all that has to be done. Sign me up.
Nothing against all of the people that died on the Titanic, but are we going to give a place of honor for all the tragedies that happen? I think this cheapens the reason for raising a flag to honor people. The 9/11 flag was in honor of all people killed. The Marines got the honor to raise a flag. We need to stop all these flag raising because then it just becomes a common event and people don’t take the time to know the meaning of why a flag is there. I drove by and saw the 9/11 flag and thought of all the civilians and military members who have died to protect our freedoms. When I look at the titanic there is not that same feeling. May God have mercy on their souls, but I don’t think the County Government should be hoisting any flag just because it was donated. Hate to say it, but it just cheapens the meaning of having a flag flown.