Our state went without an official flag for almost a century. It didn’t seem to hurt. Many flags flew over and in Missouri in that time, of course. The one we finally got, however, has been unchanged since. Missouri’s Betsy Ross was the wife of a former State Senator. Her name was Elizabeth Watkins Oliver. She was from Cape Girardeau. The original state flag of Missouri, made by Mrs. Oliver, was on display at the Capitol in Jefferson City for years.

AWOM – March 22