With smaller numbers (and older members), the Trenton Kiwanis Club is reaching out for help in putting up the flags around the Grundy County Courthouse on six patriotic holidays.
The club held a meeting Thursday with representatives of other local service organizations to discuss a plan to keep the courthouse flags flying.
“We are not interested in abandoning this project, we are looking for help,” said Kiwanis member Kara Helmandollar.
Kiwanis leader Dave Woodson told the group that the club is in search of groups to help volunteer to help set up and take down flags on six holidays: Memorial Day, Flag Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Patriots Day and Veterans Day.
The Trenton Lions Club, Trenton Rotary Club, Trenton Area Ministerial Alliance and the Trenton Area Chamber of Commerce were represented at the meeting and indicated a willingness to be assigned a holiday to be in charge of the flags.
Setting up the flags in the morning starts at 7 a.m. and take down begins at 5:30 p.m. Having six to eight people to help means that the flags can be put up in about 20 minutes and taken down in about 30 minutes.
Phil Hoffman said the Rotary Club will help with the flags on Memorial Day this year and will plan to be in charge on Flag Day. Jim Cox of the Lions Club, Rev. Steve Martin, representing the Trenton Area Ministerial Alliance and Debbie Carman, representing the Chamber, will talk with their organizations about the best day for their groups to be in charge. It was noted that just because one group is in charge on a certain holiday doesn’t mean that other groups and organizations can’t help put the flags up and take them down that day.
Another issue discussed at the meeting is the condition of the flags, many of which are casket flags and all of which represent a veteran from Grundy County. The names of the veterans are on the flag pole. Weather and time have taken their toll on the approximately 200 flags and they are in need of replacement. The cotton flags are also very difficult to dry after they are in the rain. Nylon flags would be a better option for replacement. Mrs. Helmandollar said a few of flags have been retired, including one from the Spanish-American war, which is now in the Grundy County Museum. Kiwanis club members are looking at different companies for replacing the flags and hardware.
The Kiwanis Club is planning to kick off a fundraising campaign to help raise money to replace the flags that are worn. The club has received a grant that will be used toward the project. When details on the actual cost are known, more information will be announced about the fund raising and how to sponsor a flag.