Raising Old Glory

Bigfork RE/MAX erects huge U.S. flag

The Bigfork Eagle

From now on, anyone driving through Bigfork will see a huge United States flag at the corner of Montana 35 and 209, in front of the RE/MAX of Bigfork building.

Members of the United Veterans of Flathead Valley honor guard were present Monday to raise the 12-by-18-foot flag up the 60-foot flagpole. They also shot off an 18-gun salute.

“I just like big flags and big flagpoles,” RE/MAX Realtor Scott Hollinger said.

He wants people to see a big flag when they come through Bigfork, he added. Lights will be installed at the flagpole base to illuminate the flag at night, he said, adding that the lights would be shielded to avoid glaring in drivers’ eyes.

Hollinger said he heard that Donald Trump once got in trouble for putting up a flagpole that was much taller than his neighborhood permitted.

“We put [our flagpole] down low enough that it’s not a hazard to aircraft or anything,” he said, laughing.

Memorial Day services planned

The United Veterans of the Flathead Valley will begin its Memorial Day remembrances with a ceremony at 10:15 at the Whitefish Cemetery. The public is invited to attend.

From there, the United Veterans proceed to the Glacier Memorial Gardens Cemetery at 11:30 a.m. This will be followed with a ceremony at the new VFW Post No. 2252 on First Avenue West in Kalispell at noon.

At 1 p.m. a ceremony is planned at Conrad Memorial Cemetery in Kalispell, followed by an observance at Fairview Cemetery at 1:45 p.m. United Veterans next travel to the Veterans Memorial at Marantette Park in Columbia Falls to conduct a 2:30 p.m. ceremony. The 3 p.m. ceremony takes place at Woodlawn Cemetery in Columbia Falls.

The concluding event is at the Montana Veterans Home cemetery at 3:30 p.m.

United Veterans of Flathead Valley includes representatives of all the veterans organizations in the valley, including Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, American Legion, Marine Corps League, their auxiliaries, and the National Guard.

An honor guard to perform military honors for any deceased veteran is provided by United Veterans. This consists of a captain of the guard, flag bearers, firing squad, a bugler and flag presenter. Local mortuaries make arrangements at the request of families. During 2006 there were services held for more than 100 veterans.

Occasionally, United Veterans are asked to perform at flag-raising ceremonies, parades, and other events. All members are volunteers.

United Veterans operate on donations for services performed. These funds enable the organization to provide uniform jackets, gloves and ascots for the honor guard. Each member provides a white shirt to be embroidered with the logos, black pants, black shoes and a military uniform hat.

United Veterans is always looking for men and women to increase their ranks. Anyone interesting in joining the honor guard may contact Jim Aho at VFW Post No. 2252, 752-2611; Jim Heibert at 862-3507, or Jerry Collins at 752-0198.