Last modified: 2024-05-18 by rick wyatt
Keywords: kenilworth | illinois | cook county |
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image by David Sigley, 14 April 2024
based on photo
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In the summer of 1987, Matthew Duffy was one of twenty Boy Scouts selected
from Illinois to attend the World Jamboree to be held in Australia in 1989. As
was the custom at Jamborees, the boys were asked to bring materials so that they
could build something that represented their home area. The boys from Illinois
Troop 1824 decided to build a replica of the Willis (then Sears) Tower.
It was also decided that each boy should bring a flag from his home city that
would fly on the top of their tower. At the time, Kenilworth did not have an
official flag. Searching for an Eagle Scout project, Matthew decided to design
an official flag for Kenilworth and sell them to raise money for Troop 13.
Matthew’s original design included twenty-two stars for the Kenilworth
service members lost in various wars, the George Washington Elm tree, the
Kenilworth village script logo, and blue stripes bordering the top and bottom to
represent the sky and Lake Michigan. The colors blue, green, and white were
chosen as they are also the colors of Joseph Sears School and New Trier High
School.
Matthew’s Eagle Scout project required the Village Board’s
approval, which he easily obtained. Working with Navy veteran and long time
Kenilworth resident, Harry Kelso, Matthew reviewed his design and colored the
stars gold. Matthew also obtained permission to use the Kenilworth script logo
from the original designers great-grandson.
The design complete, Matthew
contracted with a local sign maker to create 100 flags. The flag was first flown
over the 1988 Memorial Day weekend. He sold all 100 flags and shortly after the
Village Board declared the flag to be official. Matthew dedicated the flag to
his grandfather, Kenneth E. Duffy, who lost his life during World War II.
In 2003, the Village Board again voted without objection to declare the flag
permanent.
Source: http://kenilworthhistory.org/kenilworth-flag/
David Sigley, 14 April 2024
image located by David Sigley, 14 April 2024
Source of the logo: https://www.vok.org/