Sales Of NH's 'Old Man Of The Mountain' Booze Bottle Reach $66K

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — Sales from a commemorative liquor bottle featuring an image of New Hampshire's Old Man of the Mountain have generated more than $66,000 to help preserve the Hall of Flags in the State House.

The New Hampshire Liquor Commission started a campaign in December to support the preservation of the 115 historic flags.

Nearly 80 percent of the 9,000 bottles sold as of March. Fewer than 1,600 remain and are available at New Hampshire Liquor & Wine Outlets for $29.99.

The Hall of Flags features a series of war-time flags, including 88 Civil War flags, as well as flags from World Wars I and II and the Vietnam War. The flags are displayed in large, oak cases, but they are not air-tight, so the silk and cotton flags are deteriorating.

Following battle, New Hampshire soldiers would return a U.S. flag, state flag, and a regiment flag to the state capital. Some of the flags were returned battle-scarred and bloodstained.

A Flag Advisory Committee comprised of state officials, legislators and stakeholders, is studying several options, such as displaying replica flags and putting flags between sealed glass.

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