Local business preserves important piece of fire department history

Colbert Custom Framing Preserves Fire Department Flag from 1954, Donates Materials and Labor

On Wednesday, May 8, representatives from Naperville-based Colbert Custom Framing presented Naperville Fire Chief Mark Puknaitis with a circa 1954 Fire Department flag, preserved behind special UV-filtered glass specifically used for protection. Upon learning of the history of this piece of Fire Department memorabilia, Colbert Custom Framing graciously donated the materials and labor used in preserving the flag.

The Naperville Fire Department Honor Guard used this flag until 2004, when the Foreign Fire Insurance Board authorized funding for the department to have replicas made. The 1954 flag, which is all cloth with stitched lettering and graphics, has been a significant part of the history and tradition of the Fire Department over its lifespan.

The flag was kept safe for a number of years before the Honor Guard began doing research earlier this year to have the flag framed and preserved for display. Upon presenting the flag to Kevin Colbert of Colbert Custom Framing for a materials quote, Colbert said he would be honored to preserve the flag at no cost to the city.

The flag will be placed on display at a to-be-determined location.