Avenue of Flags represents deceased Cape Girardeau County veterans

Anyone who's ever seen the Avenue of Flags at Cape County Park North knows what an impressive display the hundreds of flags make.

Set up five times a year on holidays such as Independence Day and Veterans Day, it draws a large crowd from all over the region.

But it's more than just a patriotic display.

More than 450 flags will be flying on the avenue today in recognition of Patriot Day.

From World War I veterans to the soldiers who spent time on the ground in Afghanistan, each one is posted in honor of a deceased Cape Girardeau County veteran.

"It's not just a row of flags," Dave Cantrell said. "Those are lives."

Flags rest in a trailer at Thursday at Cape County Park North before they fly at the Avenue of Flags. (Glenn Landberg)

Cantrell, a Cape Girardeau native and Navy captain of 30 years, is the recent Avenue of Flags program chairman.

Despite his background, he wasn't aware of the story behind the avenue until recently. He took his children out to see it on Independence Day -- a holiday he often spends out of town -- and learned the significance of each flag.

Cantrell said he immediately took an interest in becoming involved and making sure others knew the story.

The Avenue of Flags is a coordinated effort between VFW Post 3838 in Cape Girardeau and Cape Girardeau County. It first was displayed on Memorial Day in 1987 at the county park, with U.S. Rep. Bill Emerson as the guest speaker. Families of local deceased service members had donated 80 casket flags to the VFW, which became the first flags to fly on the avenue.

Volunteers from the VFW, local churches and service programs come out each of the five holidays to help set up and take down the flags, post commander Joe Wolsey said.

"I think every politician in the area has probably taken a picture there and put up a flag or two," he said. "I've seen people with canes put up those flags. I've seen people with wheelchairs put up those flags. I've seen kids. Just all kinds of people."

But over the years, the flags have become tattered and torn. Cantrell estimates more than 200 flags have been repaired or replaced.

The old flags were not weather-resistant, Wolsey explained. Like Cantrell, he wonders how many people who make time to visit the Avenue of Flags know its true story.

"If they see the flags, they might think, 'Yeah, they're nice and pretty.' But those aren't just ordinary flags," he said. "Those are flags from deceased veterans, from the coffin. The families give them to us, or sometimes they buy another to donate."

The whole program is donation-driven. Families give flags, and volunteers offer their time and service. But there's still a financial need to cover the costs of the replacement flags and to prepare for new flags that inevitably will need to be added. Each new flag also needs a pole to be posted along the avenue.

Besides the flags, the display also includes a memory board. Local Boy Scouts built the board, which features the name of each represented veteran. Eventually, Cantrell said they hope to add a memorial stone that will feature the story of the avenue. Benches also would be included for visitors coming to pay respects to members of their own family or any of the honored veterans.

Cape Girardeau County officials already have expressed their support for the expansion. The county maintains the park, including the grounds where the flags are posted. Presiding Commissioner Clint Tracy said he first was contacted about a month ago about the avenue and a possible expansion. After hearing about the interest, the county was happy to work with the VFW on future plans, he said.

Tracy said creating another area of the memorial in the park, at the top of the hill, would serve a couple of purposes.

"Really, it would do two things," he said in a recent county commission meeting. "It would honor the veterans, and No. 2, it would offer some information about why those flags are there. Because apparently, we get a lot of visitors when those flags are up. People just driving by will stop. So if they make their way to the top of the hill, they will be able to see why those flags are there and what they represent."

A landscape architect would help create some preliminary drawings for the expansion, he said.

Associate Commissioner Charlie Herbst added he's been involved in discussions with local Boy Scout troops to commit to a few projects in the park, including the area designated for the avenue.

But the memorial stone or any kind of expansion will be possible only through donations. Those involved with the Avenue of Flags hope raising awareness will encourage others to give to the cause, but Cantrell also is working on other plans.

Boy Scout Troop 21 has a flag program to help those interested in flying the flag better understand the etiquette and maintenance involved. When it comes to the flag code, Wolsey suspects many are not fully informed. That's why the VFW is hoping to partner with the troop to enhance the flag program and reach out to businesses that might be interested in the service.

The program not only would offer more information on flag etiquette, Cantrell said, but it also would take care of maintenance and other needs for the business.

"We would maintain their flag for them, at a cost," he said. "Maintain the flag, the lighting, the presentation of it. Then, the money we collect from that program, that's what would continue to fund the Avenue of Flags program."

Those who have questions about the Avenue of Flags or the flag program are encouraged to reach out to the VFW by emailing vfwpost3838@yahoo.com or stopping by its location at 1049 N. Kingshighway. VFW representatives also will have an informational tent at the avenue display today to answer questions.

As he's spreading the word about the flags around the community, Cantrell also hopes to connect with other communities to inspire their VFW posts or service organizations to start a similar display of their own.

In a time of so much division, Cantrell considers the flag to be the "common thread" that could help spur more unity.

"Cape Girardeau's probably not going to change the country, but someone else might see this and take this experience with them," he said. "You never know what one initiative might create."

srinehart@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3641

Pertinent address:

Cape County Park North, Cape Girardeau, Mo.