Friday's Internet Edition, November 21, 2008.
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| David and Fran Daniel, 551 El Paso St., proudly fly their American flag in preparation for July Fourth. While many homeowners display their own flags, several local businesses and residents rely on flags placed by the Kiwanis Club for their show of patriotism. Photo by Mary Beth Garmon. |
Progress News Writer - They get up by the dawn’s early light to place more than 100 flags at local businesses and homes in Jacksonville.
Five times a year, members of the local Kiwanis Club place American flags at buildings where business owners or residents have paid $25 annually to have the flags placed for a patriotic holiday.
On President’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Flag Day and Veteran’s Day, members place the flags at 7 a.m., taking them down at 5 p.m., before the twilight's last gleaming.
“We take them down before it gets dark, and try not to put them up in inclement weather,” said Billy McMoyle, Kiwanis member. “So far, we’ve been lucky about the weather.”
Miste Campbell is the flag chairman for the club. She said the project, which was taken up by the club after the Civitan Club disbanded years ago, serves a fund raiser for Kiwanis, as it was for Civitan.
“We would really like to see other businesses and individuals participate in this great program,” she said.
When the flags are not being flown, they are carefully stored for the next holiday.
The club also has other fund raisers during the year, including the recent auction at the Tomato Fest. Next week, the group will sell tickets for a Cowboy breakfast Saturday, July 14, in connection with the Rodeo. The breakfast, starting at 7:30 a.m. at Norman Activity Center, will feature pancakes, sausage, juice, milk and coffee. Tickets are $3 for individuals or $6 for a family.
For information regarding Kiwanis membership, individuals are invited to the Thursday noon meals currently held at the Hot Biscuit on Highway 79.
For information regarding the flag program, contact Miste Campbell at Austin Bank, 586-1526.
Mary Beth Garmon may be reached via e-mail at mbgarmon@jacksonvilleprogress.com