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<p class="MsoNormal"><img width="82" height="79" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.jpg@01CE0859.3ED5BEB0" alt="State seal2">
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial Black","sans-serif"">Oregon </span>
<b><span style="font-family:"Arial Black","sans-serif"">State Library<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino">250 Winter St. NE</span><span style="font-family:Palatino"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino">Salem, OR 97301-3950<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:36.0pt">News Release </span><span style="font-family:"Arial Black","sans-serif"">For Immediate Release
</span><span style="font-size:36.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Contact: MaryKay Dahlgreen, State Librarian, (503) 378-4367<span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;letter-spacing:-.6pt">Braille American Flag Dedication<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt">Tactile Braille American flag to be presented to Talking Book and Braille Services at the Oregon State Library<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Oregon Columbia Regional Group (OCRG) of the Blinded Veterans Association will be participating in a dedication for the Braille American Flag they and Kansas Braille Transcription Institute have donated to the Oregon State Library Talking
Books and Braille Services. The dedication of the Braille American Flag will be in the lobby of the Oregon State Library on
<b>Thursday, February 21, 2013 at 2:00 p.m</b>. This event is open to the public.<span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In 2005, the Braille American Flag was created by the son of a now deceased blinded WWII veteran.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In 2008, following the unanimous vote of the 110<sup>th</sup> U.S. Congress, a bronze replica of the flag was placed within the Arlington National Cemetery as a tribute to blind veterans of all wars and other blind Americans.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In 2012, the first Braille American Flag in Oregon was dedicated at the Willamette National Cemetery in Portland. The Braille American Flag at the Oregon State Library, Talking Book and Braille Services, is the fourth permanent flag in
Oregon to be dedicated by the Oregon Columbia Regional Group of the Blinded Veterans Association for all blind Americans and American veterans with gratitude for their time of service to America.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Each year Americans observe important dates in honor of our nation’s history and Armed Forces. The flag of the United States of America is a central symbol in each of our important events and in our daily lives.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Now, for millions of Americans who are blind or will become blind, the Braille American Flag offers them the opportunity to see or continue to see one of our nation’s most treasured symbols.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:18.0pt">Founded in 2000, the Kansas Braille Transcription Institute, Inc. is a non-profit corporation dedicated to serving the visually impaired.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;line-height:18.0pt">
-30-<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">-----------------</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Elke H. Bruton, MLIS<br>
Public Services Librarian<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Talking Book and Braille Services<br>
Oregon State Library<br>
250 Winter Street NE<br>
Salem, OR 97301-3950<br>
503-378-5455<br>
<br>
elke.bruton@state.or.us<br>
http://www.tbabs.org</span><o:p></o:p></p>
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