Giving Back – Giant American Flag
Giant American Flag on Bechelli Lane…
ENJOY Q&A, with Mike Ferrier, Enterprise Lions Club
How did the American flag on Bechelli Lane come to be? How do you create an iconic image revered on both a regional and statewide level and recognized around the world? Go big, conspicuous, patriotic and for a worthy reason. The Enterprise Lions Clubs Giant American Flag is just that. It was conceived by Victor O’Grey and dedicated on the first anniversary of 9-11 in 2002 as a memorial to all those who serve. It honors all those who are going in when others are running out, those who give of themselves to help others. The 120-foot-tall flagpole supports either a 1,500- or 1,800-square-foot American flag, and 1,200 watts of LED light bathe the flag all night long. The pole is standing in a tube 12 feet deep surrounded by 18 tons of concrete.
How was the flag funded? About $50,000 was generated to get the project started. Local media was actively involved and off duty police officers, fire fighters and community servants donated their time to help the cause. The land is on lease from Redding First Church of the Nazarene. The Keep the Flag Flying Fundraiser consisted of drive-through events at the flag and generated over $160,000, which is in an Endowment Fund at The Community Foundation of the North State. Through prudent investment, that fund has grown to over $210,000. Only interest from the endowment is used to maintain and improve the site so the flag can fly in perpetuity (forever). The church did their own project and beautifully paved and landscaped the huge area surrounding the flag. All combined, this is now a million-dollar project.
What happens to the old flags? When a flag has seen its last day of service, it is ceremoniously retired, usually by our Lions Club, one of the local VFW Posts and occasionally at summer camps or by Boy Scouts at one of their large events.
How has the flag served as a unifying symbol during important national or local events? This is what this flag is all about. There is an annual 9-11 Remembrance put on by the first responders of the North State. When a CHP officer is lost on duty in California, we host a vigil at the pole the next morning.
What do you enjoy most about being involved with this project? I have been a flag keeper for 17 years, and I’ve had thousands of people help me change the flag. I think the very best is watching someone catch the flag as it comes down out of the sky and into their arms on a day with a little wind. It touches places of patriotism, intimidation because it is so big, reflection on lost loved ones, and everyone who catches that flag is a kid again trying to catch a kite.
How does the Lions Club maintain the flag and ensure its upkeep? We keep an inventory of about 10 big flags, which range from new to retired. The biggest maintenance issue is the changing of flags, which happens an average of once a month. The flags last longer in the summer, maybe two or three months. In the winter, we put up flags which have already been repaired once or twice and they may only last for a week. The flags fly on the pole until compromised and are then repaired by Dot Lanham of Cottonwood, a local seamstress, and put into inventory to wait for their next time to shine. Dot is our designated seamstress. Nobody else sews on our flags. When a newer flag gets tattered, we take it to Dot and she rebuilds the end of the flag. In addition, weeds need pulling and general cleanup is done until we decide it is time to refit the pole. This involves replacing all of the working parts and hardware and painting the pole.
