Visitors to Stone High Street may be surprised to see the flag of Texas being raised on Saturday – and if you live in the town, you may be even more astounded to learn that you’re classed an “Honorary Texan”.
Stone may be more than 4,500 miles from the city of Carthage in the Lone Star State, but the two areas have a special connection dating back more than 80 years, thanks to an act of festive kindness shown by the townsfolk to US airmen during the Second World War.
Stone Town Council member Jim Davies said:
” A major location for the American war effort here was developed just outside the town, at Yarnfield. There, the United States Army Air Force built and ran a huge organisation for processing American flyers on their way to their operational bomber and fighter squadrons and for handling the lucky survivors on their way back home.
“Hundreds of thousands of American airmen passed through the centre and, during their brief stay here, many took the chance to experience the customary friendship and generosity of the people of Stone. Indeed, even today, some of our older inhabitants have vivid memories of those times.
“A wonderful example occurred on Christmas Day 1943, when, after they’d had their Christmas turkey dinner, many American airmen came down to the town from their billets at Yarnfield and were spontaneously welcomed by local families to share the festive season with them. One of those flyers was Captain John W Howland, a pilot on Flying Fortress bombers (B17s), who was adopted by the Redman family during his stay.
“Some 50 years later, John Howland returned to Stone from his home in the city of Carthage, Texas. He brought with him a presentation key and a formal proclamation from that city, declaring Stone and Carthage to be sister cities, as a reminder of the lasting friendship and appreciation of the people of Stone by the people of Carthage, and conferring on all the citizens of Stone the status of Honorary Texans.”
The historic items are now on display at Stone Town Council’s meeting chamber in Station Road. Another gift given by Carthage was “the flag of the Lone Star State of Texas to be displayed on all festive occasions” – and one such event will be marked on Saturday.
Stone Town Council flies the state flag at the top of the High Street to mark two major Texan anniversaries. December 29 is the annivesary of Texas becoming the 28th US state in 1845, while Saturday’s ceremony will commemorate Texas gaining independence from Mexico on March 2 1836.
Town Mayor Philip Leason is set to attend Saturday’s event at 12pm and said he was looking forward to the occasion. “It’s always a nice ceremony and some of the crowd have been to Texas”, he added.
Florence Brass Band, Stone Choral Society, Stone Detachment (Mercian Regiment) Army Cadets, 2352 (Stone) Squadron ATC and other representatives of local groups will also be in attendance. Anyone else interested in marking the milestone will also be welcome on Saturday.
Councillor Davies said: “As honorary Texans, the citizens of Stone are proud to raise ceremonially the Lone Star State flag on two annual occasions. The flag is always raised at ‘high noon’ and, in March, the opportunity is taken to sing the State Song, Texas, Our Texas.”
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