The Flag Tours Mississippi
October 21, 2003

Mississippi Lieutenant Governor Amy Tuck, The Mississippi Department of Mental Health and NAMI Mississippi, hosted Kristy Worthen and the Mental Health Flag to Jackson, MS on October 21, 2003 to bring awareness on mental health issues, help erase stigma and dispel the myths of mental illness.

A crowd of more than two hundred people, comprised of consumers, family members, mental health groups such as Federation Of Families, NAMI, NMHA, Director of the Mississippi State Hospital, Pastoral Care, representatives from the Mississippi Department Of Mental Health and other groups came from across the state to hear the remarks of Lt. Governor Amy Tuck, Mr. Roger McMurtry of the Mississippi Department of Mental Health, Dr. Randy Hendrix, and special guests, Kristy and Mary Worthen.

Kristy Worthen Designed and hand painted the Mental Health Flag in May of 2002 to focus attention on mental health issues and is on tour, taking the flag to all fifty states. Jackson, MS was the 15th state the flag has been to.

Kristy's Mental Health Flag was raised above the Mississippi state capitol at approximately 8:15 A.M. The Mental Health Flag was the only flag that flew above the state capitol until after the flag ceremony. According to Nancy Barkley of the Lt. Governor's office, "this is the first time in Mississippi history that the Mississippi flag or U.S. Flag did not fly above the capitol until after 10:30 A.M. when the Mental Health Flag Ceremony was completed." However the Mississippi Flag and the U.S. Flag were posted behind the Lt. Governor as the Mental Health Flag Ceremony began at 10 A.M.

The ceremony began with the Posting of the Colors by the Mississippi National Guard and the Pledge Of Allegiance to the United States Flag led by the Mississippi National Guard. Mr. Roger McMurtry began the ceremony with a welcome to all, and remarks on mental health issues and then introduced Dr. Randy Hendrix after Dr. Hendrix's remarks he introduced Lt. Governor Amy Tuck who spoke on the conditions of mental health in the state of Mississippi, the Lt. Governor then introduced Mary and Kristy Worthen who told the mission of the Mental Health Flag and gave a brief history of the flag. The Mississippi National Guard, then lowered the Mental Health Flag and handed it to the Lt. Governor to sign. The Lt. Governor signed the flag and presented it to Kristy along with a Proclamation from the State of Mississippi. The National Guard then raised the Mississippi State Flag and the United States Flag above the capitol.

Lt. Gov. Amy Tuck's signature on the Mental Health Flag
Image by: McCardinal Photo

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