From the August 2017 Vexilloid Tabloid #65
By Michael Orelove
About two years ago I wrote a letter to the Chicago Fire Department requesting an old Chicago flag that had flown over a fire station. I just received the flag.
It flew over Engine 83 which was 2.6 miles from where I used to live in Chicago.
I wanted to find a new home for the flag so I went to Troutdale Fire Station 75 and asked if they knew any firefighters with a Chicago connection. They referred me to Joe Griffin of Gresham Fire Station 76.
I connected with Joe, who has family in Chicago and goes to back there about once a year. I gave him the flag.
As with other flags the stars and stripes represent different things. On the Chicago flag each point of the stars has a different meaning. For example, the second red star represents the Chicago Fire of 8–10 October 1871. The points of the second star signify religion, education, esthetics, justice, beneficence, and civic pride.
Chicago adopted the original version of the flag in 1917. Since then, it has added stars, and now flies extensively throughout the city. The design has been voted one of the best in the country and has inspired other city flags.
Portland Flag Association 