As America celebrates its 250th anniversary, the Daily Press looks back at a massive U.S. flag that once waved over the High Desert during the nation’s Bicentennial.
The 6,834-square-foot flag that weighed 176 pounds also greeted President Ronald Reagan and the returning Space Shuttle Columbia crew on July 4, 1982.
Bob Older Sr.
World War II veteran and developer Bob Older Sr. was the man behind the first flag-raising event on July 4, 1976, which was later entered into the Guinness Book of Records, the Daily Press reported.
On that day, nearly 10,000 people gathered at Older’s ranch in Oro Grande, west of Old Route 66, to marvel at the gigantic flag, suspended between two 100-foot flag poles set 275 feet apart.
Older said the flag was hoisted up by 13 men, mostly from the now-shuttered George Air Force Base in Victorville. He also likened the men to the 13 original colonies founded along the Eastern seaboard in the 17th and 18th centuries.
Older said he dished out nearly $5,000 to create the specially-made Old Glory, which measured 67 feet by 102 feet, and included stars that were 3 feet across. He also spent another $5,000 on poles, cables, pulleys and other items.
‘A Gentle Giant”
Standing 6 feet and 4 inches tall and weighing 250 pounds, many called Older a “patriot” and “gentle giant,” who loved his family, his country and his vintage car collection.
Older’s Bicentennial event drew national attention, placed him in the spotlight and put an unknown, sleepy, High Desert town on the map, the Daily Press reported.
About a month after the July 4 event, Older was dubbed a hero after he saved the life of Navy pilot, Lt. John W. Brown, whose jet crashed on his ranch.
Decades later, Oro Grande resident Eva Padilla claimed Older hosted the Bicentennial flag ceremony as a publicity stunt. In 2017, the 85-year-old Padilla said Older put up the huge flag on July 4, 1976, for publicity and “Because he wanted to be county supervisor.”
Older’s flag flew at least four times after his First District Supervisor victory in 1980, and twice after he was recalled, casting doubt on Padilla’s publicity claim.
“He did mean good, you know what I mean?” Padilla said. “I would love to have four American flags right here for my (veteran) brothers.”
Older, who purchased an abundance of Victorville land and sold the 1,600 acres that later became Silver Lakes, wasn’t yet a politician in 1976.
On Nov. 2, 1982, voters would recall Older by a 54% margin, with critics claiming his “extensive land holdings” conflicted with his duties, the Daily Press reported.
Older’s political life continued into the late 1980s. He was appointed to a number of high-ranking positions in the housing sector by then-Gov. George Deukmejian.
Long may it wave
Older’s flag was hoisted every July 4 for eight years in a row between 1976 and 1983.
In 1978, a mechanism of wires and pulleys was produced to lift the flag 80 feet into the air, while local dignitaries and an honor guard from George Air Force Base performed during the ceremony.
In 1979, then-California Congressman Jerry Lewis was the main speaker at Older’s event. “Ozzie and Harriet” actor Skip Young also spoke and former California State Assemblyman Larry Chimbole served as master of ceremonies.
The mayors of Victorville and Adelanto were also in attendance, and a 21-gun salute was performed by the Apple Valley armory of the National Guard.
Remembering the hostages
Older flew his flag during the Iranian Hostage Crisis and through the swearing in of President Ronald Reagan.
Beginning in November 1979 and continuing for 444 days, Islamic extremists held 49 American hostages in the United States Embassy in Tehran, Iran.
The hostages were released on Jan. 20, 1981, just minutes after Reagan was sworn in as the 40th U.S. President.
Greeting President Reagan, Space Shuttle
Older’s flag gained its largest audience on July 4, 1982, as it hung from an Edwards Air Force Base hangar near Rogers Dry Lake, where the Space Shuttle Columbia would land.
An estimated 500,000 people descended on the lake that day. Another 45,000 packed into NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center, including Reagan.
As the Space Shuttle Columbia landed, just back from a fourth orbital test flight, Older’s flag waved in the background as Columbia touched down.
Bidding farewell
On July 4, 1990, after flying over the Victor Valley for 14 years, Adelanto’s American Legionnaires properly burned Older’s flag in the traditional, patriotic, correct and honored way.
After living in Sacramento, Older returned to his Oro Grande home, where he, at age 74, died of heart failure on Oct. 13, 1995, the Daily Press reported.
Daily Press reporter Rene Ray De La Cruz may be reached at RDeLaCruz@VVDailyPress.com
This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Massive U.S. flag greeted Space Shuttle, president in the High Desert
Reporting by Rene Ray De La Cruz, Victorville Daily Press / Victorville Daily Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Rene Ray De La Cruz, Victorville Daily Press | USA TODAY Network
