Assistant Editor Jerry Lindsey took the first photograph.
In November 2021, the Morrison Lions Foundation and Morrison American Legion Post 328 began a campaign to raise funds, to replace the 350 flags that line U. S. Highway 30 and IL Route 78 through the City of Morrison, IL. The Morrison community and donors with connections to the area overwhelmingly and rapidly supported this project.
Both organizations are grateful for that support. There is a commemorative booklet available to honor the donors. It can be found during the American Legion Ribbon Cutting and Open House, Monday, May 30, beginning at 1:00 p.m. Online versions are available, too.
Funding covered the purchase of “350 flags–that had started to look really grungy–and replaced bent poles,” stated Lion Martha Kophamer. She said three, 20′, telescoping poles were installed at the “Welcome to Morrison” signs on West and East U. S. Highway 30 and on IL Route 78 (shown below, across from Morrison Institute of Technology.) They display a 4′ x 6′ banner.
Donations funded creation of a better way to store flags. It also established a Replacement Flag Fund. This will allow the American Legion to replace any worn flags throughout the Morrison area, such as at local cemeteries.
Along the Avenue of Flags, about 320 new flags were installed on Friday, May 27, by ten Lions Club members and two Municipal truck drivers. Earlier in the week, two other City Public Works staff had sprayed white paint to help locate the 320 pole holes. Banners will fly through Tuesday, May 31, 2022.
Kophamer noted, “We got a couple ‘atta boy’ honks from drivers.”
Left-to-right are Bob Smith, Bob Countryman, Jim Blakemore, Keith Hamstra, Steve Wroble, Martha Kophamer, Rick Smith, Darlene Smith, and Bart Smith. Aaron Johnson took the picture.
It took them “about an hour to put up the flags.”
(Editor’s note: The church name does not include “Reformed” any longer.) Also on Friday morning, May 27, Morrison Emmanuel Church‘s Flag Squad placed 72 flags downtown, on Main Street and side streets. Rich Criss stated the group “takes care of anything on a pole. We always have about 12 people. We were assisted by a boom truck, from Arnie Damhoff’s, A & D Electric,” 520 W. Main Street, Morrison.
“It took 16 minutes!” He explained it previously “took longer to install about 120 flags with the old [lamp] poles.” There were more poles, and some poles had more than one flag to install.
Today, LED lights are much brighter and cast a broad, downward illumination. Fewer poles are required. There is only one flag holder per pole.
Criss reported the flag team celebrated their 16-minute service project with “breakfast at The Double G Saloon.”