More than 100 American flags are spread across the lawn on the Massies Mill Ruritan Club, an eye-catching patriotic display of red, white and blue for motorists along Virginia 151.
The club is hosting an American Celebration 250 U.S. flag display tribute fundraiser through July 10. The campaign, which kicked off June 20, allows Nelson County and area residents to sponsor a flag for $75 in support of the community and celebrating America’s 250th anniversary.
The lighted, 3-by-5-foot flags have a name tag recognizing the sponsor with an option to dedicate it in honor or memory of someone of their choosing.
David Hight, the club’s treasurer, said over the winter he was thinking about ways to raise money for the organization and the country’s milestone of reaching 250 years came to mind. The club bought the flags; he has a sawmill and made poles to put them on and Ruritan members painted them
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Hight said he started talking to friends about it and the first he spoke with, a farmer, called him back in 15 minutes to say he would take 30. Another Nelson resident, Larry Saunders, is part of a group that acquired 22 flags, one each in memory of every man from the county killed in the Vietnam War, according to Hight.
“We’re just encouraging people to stop by and look at them,” Hight said.
As of June 24, the club sold 112 flags, he said.
“The hardest problem we've had over the last week, it's been so dry, the ground is so hard, we had to rip a hammer drill to put them,” Hight said.
Bob Seraphin, the club’s secretary, said members sanded and primed the flagpoles and spoke of how hard the ground is because of recent drought.
“We've been soaking our arms in ice every night,” Seraphin said.
The fundraiser mostly has been word of mouth and next year will be called American Celebration 251, he said.
“I’d say probably more than half our recognition of military veterans, but they could be in memory of anybody,” Hight said.
He said flags club members put up the morning of June 24 are in honor of supporters of the Nelson Food Pantry.
“It's a win-win-win situation, it's recognizing the country, it’s helping the Ruritan Club financially and it’s recognizing people in the community,” Hight said.
“And we're able to provide more scholarships and other donations to the community,” Sherapin said. “It all works in a circle like that.”
If interested in buying flags, contact Hight at (434) 277-5351.
Justin Faulconer, (434) 473-2607
Justin Faulconer
Reporter/Editor of Amherst New-Era Progress and Nelson County Times
