Avenue of Flags Program
The Avenue of Flags idea was brought to the Centralia Cemetery Advisory Board by Cemetery Advisory Board member Jan Hollis in July 2005. She had seen the display in Neodesha, Kansas and thought it would be nice for Centralia to have an Avenue of Flags Display. At that time, the City Cemetery Advisory Board consisted of the following members: Thelma Chandler, Chester Fritch, Jan Hollis, Greg Pauley, Oneda Roberts, Vickie Simmons, and Kathy Colvin. The cemetery board worked closely with several organizations including the VFW Post, the Centralia Flower and Garden Club and area citizens to form the Avenue of Flags Committee. Active members of the committee, besides the cemetery board members, are: Dennis Mills, Mary Frances George, Marjorie Motley, Don Bobbitt, Don Bagley, and Phyllis Brown. The public is welcome to attend the meetings as volunteers are very important to this organization!
Guidelines were prepared to be eligible for a memorial flag to be display for a veteran. The Committee’s goal was to have all the area veterans killed in action (KIA) flags flying by Memorial Day 2006. With community donations and lots of volunteers approximately 120 flags were flying Memorial Day 2006 including 25 KIA flags. To date, the display has grown to 548 flags.
The display is simply breathtaking and has been known to stop traffic. Weather permitting, the flags will fly on Memorial Day weekend through Anchor Fest weekend, July 4th, and Veteran’s Day. Volunteers are always welcome to assist with raising and lowering the flags. If you are interested in volunteering with the community project, please contact City Hall, 114 S Rollins, Centralia, MO at (573) 682-2139. Postcard notifications for the flag display schedule are mailed out about two weeks before the scheduled display time. No one is obligated to assist but all help would is greatly appreciated.
Donations are welcome.
To purchase a flag, please complete the veteran’s information form and submit to the address listed on the form along with payment of $100.
