BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — What does the American flag represent? It’s a symbol of freedom, national pride and commitment to liberty. For families across the county, it represents stories of immigrants hoping to find a better life in the land of opportunity.

“This was my great grandmother’s. She came over as an Irish immigrant in 1863, and I don’t know exactly when she purchased the flag, but it’s got 46 stars, so it couldn’t have been before 1910,” said 82-year-old Bill Licht.

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Licht walked into KGET studios wanting to properly retire a worn American flag for our flag drive but also brought with him an example of the American dream.

Licht’s great grandmother, Mary May, carried with her a flag that showcases 46 hand-sewn stars.

“All my family came from European immigration. And, you know, America represented a land of opportunity. Fortunately, that dream is still alive,” he said.

The United States only had 46 stars on its flag from 1908 to 1912 when Arizona and New Mexico joined the Union. But for context, that four-year period saw the bear wrestling Teddy Roosevelt and William Howard Taft as presidents and the city of Bakersfield almost 50 years old.

A photo shows Licht’s family holding the then fairly new 46-star flag in Los Angeles, but it serves more than just a piece of family history.

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“I think about it a lot because every time I pull out one of the old photo albums, I look at some of my family, like my great grandfather on my father’s side was a sergeant in the Civil War, and I have his metal flask … It’s it’s not only family history, it’s American history.”

But what’s next for the piece of history?

We urged Licht not to retire the historical flag but rather put it in a museum to honor the flags historical and family importance. He agreed, he said he hopes people can take away something away from the century old flag.

“My hope would be that more people take an interest in not only the history of our country, but the history of their family and knowing, especially those that have been here for generations with the hardship wars that they went through,” said Licht.

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