Great Lakes Recruit 



the: greatest flag in the world: 10,000 bluejackets forming a living 

 emblem oe the american union 



This animated Stars and Stripes, formed at the Great Lakes Naval Training Station, 

 covered an area of seven acres. The ball was composed of 250 men; the pole (not including 

 the ball) was 550 feet long, four feet in width at the bottom, six feet at the top, and required 

 700 men; 1,600 men were required for the white stripes; 1,900 for the red, 1,800 for the 

 stars, and 3,400 for the blue field. In order that the proportions should appear correct, many 

 niceties of perspective had to be solved. For example, the topmost star was composed of 65 

 men, in order that it might appear the same size as the star nearest the camera's eye, with 

 only 12 men. 



228 



