Early snow makes Veterans Day flag display a little more challenging

By Bob Steenson, bsteenson@charlescitypress.com

Russ Schwarz was facing a bit of a challenge Thursday afternoon.

The Charles City Lions Club member’s task was to put up 10 American flags in the Willson-Lorber Rose Garden park near the Cedar River and Main Street.

The flags are part of the club’s Flags Over Charles City program where, for a donation, club members will install a flagpole sleeve in the donor’s yard or business, then put up a flag in the sleeve for Memorial Day, Flag Day, Independence Day, Labor Day and Veterans Day.

Those are all usually fair-weather holidays — except this year.

Schwarz, the club’s immediate past president, said this is the first time he can remember putting up flags in the snow.
The flagpole sleeves in the park are installed flush with the ground to avoid lawnmowers, and the little white caps on the sleeves had disappeared into the white of the snow that fell starting Wednesday afternoon.

“It’s kind of a nightmare” trying to find them, he said good-naturedly, as he used a rake to clear the snow.

Schwarz said a total of 130 flags are now part of the program, with about 50 of them designated in memory of specific people.

The flags will be up through the Veterans Day weekend, then club members will start taking them down on Tuesday and rolling them up for storage until needed again.

VETERANS DAY EVENTS

Veterans Day-related events and specials that have been reported to the Press:

• Elks Lodge in Charles City — Tonight (Friday): Annual soup supper for veterans and their families. RSVP by noon to Erika Troyna, 641-330-4293, or the Elk’s Lodge at 641-228-1257. Uniforms or patriotic clothing welcome.

• Charles City Schools, Veterans Day Program Monday, Nov. 11, beginning at 10 a.m. at the middle school gym. Doors open at 9:30 a.m. Handicapped, elevator, and mobility assistance available.

• RRMR High School Senior Class hosts Veterans Day Program at 10 a.m. Monday, Nov. 11, at the high school in Rockford. Doors open at 9:30 a.m. Handicapped parking and mobility assistance available.

• Hy-Vee Stores — Annual free veteran’s breakfast for veterans and active members of the military, 6 to 11 a.m. During the event, Hy-Vee and Hallmark will also offer free cards to customers to express appreciation to men and women serving overseas. In cooperation with the nonprofit organization A Million Thanks, Hy-Vee’s goal is to collect 100,000 cards, or 100,000 “thanks.”

• Pizza Ranch, Charles City — Free adult buffet for veterans or active military.

• Theisen’s, Charles City — 10% discount for veterans.

• Casey’s General Stores in Charles City and Green — Free coffee or cappuccino for veterans.

• Snap Fitness, Charles City — Free one-day pass for veterans. Subway will be providing sandwiches and Aromas will provide free coffee for veterans at Snap Fitness that day.

• Note to Press readers: The Press will not publish a newspaper on Monday because of the federal postal holiday. Read the latest news at www.charlescitypress.com.