It wasn’t your typical Friday at Harbor Creek High School. Hundreds of students in grades seven through twelve, along with staff members and county leaders, gathered around the school’s turf field for the unveiling of a massive “Don’t Give Up the Ship” flag that stretched across nearly a third of the football field.
County Executive Christina Vogel said moments like this are important because they help connect people to the region’s history and its role in the nation’s story.
“I think it’s important to understand our history and everything that contributed to the success of the United States over the last 250 years,” Vogel said.
The flag was donated by Erie County, but its journey is just beginning. Following Friday’s display, it will be showcased at the Army-Navy football game before being taken to the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis. The flag honors Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry’s victory in the Battle of Lake Erie.
The original 1813 flag was stitched in Erie by the Forster sisters, making it a lasting symbol of the city’s connection to American naval history.
Joe Pfadt, executive director of the Oliver Hazard Perry Shipyard, said the flag represents more than just local pride.
“That we do things not for our community, but for the nation. The importance of Erie and the ‘Don’t Give Up the Ship’ flag is a logo that is recognizable all around the country,” Pfadt said.
Friday’s unveiling also ties into the upcoming 100-year commemoration of the Perry Monument on September 10, highlighting Erie’s deep roots in naval history.
As students gathered around the enormous flag, the event served as a reminder of the community’s connection to the past while helping preserve that history for the next generation.