Local Flag Day ceremony honors those who served

A group of mostly Vietnam veterans and their families celebrated Flag Day with a ceremony last week at Almaden Golf and Country Club to raise the U.S. flag on a brand new flag pole.

A 4-man Honor Guard from the U.S. Army Recruiting Center in Almaden lowered the U.S. flag in the afternoon, and a 30-pound brass plaque commemorating the new pole was dedicated to club members who served in the different branches of the U.S. military.

Two other plaques listed about 83 names of club members, both living and deceased, and their tours of duty in their specific services.

All three plaques were presented to the public below the new flag pole.

District 10 San Jose City Council member Johnny Khamis appeared briefly to support the members and their families. Almaden Golf and Country Club President Matt Hurley in his opening remarks thanked these members, first-responders at New York’s 9/11, and their families for their service in “protecting and serving the country.”

The folded flag was presented to Doug Keefer, a veteran of the U.S. Army’s 3rd Infantry, 1st division (“the tallest platoon”) and drill team, and a club member. Flag Day is especially important to him, since Keefer makes it a point to hand out flag pins, giving them away to anyone he meets.

The previous flag pole at the club has been up since the club was founded in 1968. Keefer added, the club flag flies below the U.S. flag, which is traditionally flown at half-mast to remember a member who died.

Keefer and his wife donated about $5,000 for the new flag pole because Keefer said. “we can do it and I love my country.” He added that “at least 25 percent of the club were formerly in the military.”

Club Membership Director Adrienne Simpson, like a number of the women who attended, said her “great grandfather, father and niece” are all service members.

To visit the plaques, visit almadengcc.org.