Flags will fly on Memorial Day
Other holidays planned for use of newly installed flag holders
The city of Rio Dell has a very special celebration in the works for Memorial Day this year and not even COVID-19 can change what is planned.
60 American flags will be displayed in the medians of Wildwood Avenue on Monday, with plans to also display the flags on other special holidays, such as Flag Day, July Fourth, Labor Day, and Veteran’s Day.
“As we open up for business, remember that those we are honoring this Memorial Day gave their lives for us (and) in the memory of their sacrifice, we all need to be judicious in our battle with this virus, to protect the lives of our most vulnerable Americans,” Rio Dell Scotia Chamber of Commerce President Nick Angeloff said.
The Chamber of Commerce has purchased and built 60 American flags and poles and installed permanent flagpole holders in all medians on Wildwood Avenue in Rio Dell.
Each flag is available for community members and businesses in Humboldt County to purchase for $50 in honor of a relative or friend. A brass plaque will be made for each pole, with three lines available and the first line being “In honor of.”
“We have received overwhelming support for the project,” Angeloff said, “and it is coming in ahead of schedule.”
The original plan was to first display the flags on Flag Day in June.
The Chamber of Commerce was able to purchase the flags and all other materials at cost from Forbusco Lumber and Eureka Ready Mix in Fortuna donated a load of concrete to set the flagpole holders. Volunteers included Angeloff, Jim Brickley, Elijah Sanderson, Ronnie Sanderson, Michael McDermott, and Gordon Johnson.
“We kept our social distancing during project implementation,” Angeloff said.
Seed money for the project came from diamond chamber members Natura Blue LLC and Archaeological Research and Supply Company, gold chamber members Ali Baba Farms, Big Daddy O Farms, and Big Fir Farms, silver chamber members Hettenshaw Farms, Pirin LLC, Repipeplus LLC, Dobrev LLC, Star Parking LLC, and bronze member Humboldt Logistics LLC.
“As we fight this virus and adapt to our new reality, the Rio Dell Scotia Chamber of Commerce thought the community could use something to brighten their days while emphasizing unity through patriotism,” Angeloff said. “We are Americans, we are all in this together, and we will overcome this adversity.”
The same businesses mentioned above also donated nearly $10,000 to efforts by the Rio Dell Scotia Chamber of Commerce, the Rio Dell Resource Center, and the City of Rio Dell to benefit senior citizens during the COVID-19 pandemic. “This program has protected our seniors from COVID-19 exposure by delivering groceries on a weekly basis over the past two months,” Angeloff said, “allowing our most vulnerable to limit their potential exposure to the virus.”