Flag raising event at Brownstown courthouse commemorates state’s 199th birthday

The City of Lafayette and other Tippecanoe County communities raised the Indiana Bicentennial Flag on Statehood Day.

While the bicentennial isn’t until December 11, 2016, the celebrations got started early.

IN became the nation’s 19th state in 1816. Bicentennial Co-County Coordinator and Assistant South Bend Fire Chief Jim Lopez will read a proclamation on behalf of the county commissioners during the ceremony. Lake County was incorporated just over 20 years later in February 1837.

Hundreds of fourth graders headed to the Indiana State Museum for a special program Friday morning.

The torch relay will take place between September and October of next year.

“Sometimes because of our proximity to Chicago, or our distance from Indianapolis, we don’t identify as much with the state of IN as maybe we should”, Repay said.

Gov. Pence will also be kicking off the state’s bicentennial year. The flag is not meant to replace the IN state flag, McKean said, but will fly below the state flag IN honor of the 200th anniversary. Nomination forms are available on line at www.indiana2016.org/torchrelay/nomination-forms. “We celebrate our history, where we’ve been, where we’re going and so we’re happy to be a part of that”.