Flags Decorate the Square for Memorial Day Weekend
Noblesville Noon Kiwanians Thomas Aycock (left) and Becky Terry, executive director of the Boys & Girls Club of Noblesville, set out American flags Thursday afternoon for Memorial Day weekend.
Noblesville Noon Kiwanians — David Burns (from back left) (and son, Evan), Joe Arrowood (and wife JoEllen), Justin Pelkey, Kathy Kreag Williams, Thomas Aycock, Becky Terry and Jake Doll — spend late afternoon Thursday placing about 200 American flags around the Hamilton County Courthouse Square for Memorial Day weekend.
I just love to see all of the American flags decorating the Hamilton County Courthouse Square on Memorial Day weekend.
Thursday afternoon, I caught up with the Noblesville Noon Kiwanians who placed about 200 small American flags on display around the Historic Courthouse, many in memory of and in honor of loved ones or military servicemen and women who have died while serving in U.S. Forces.
Names were printed on laminated cards and attached to each American flag. The 200 American flags will remain on display around the Square all weekend and will be removed on Tuesday.
Kiwanians arrived a little before 4:30 p.m. Thursday and went to work setting the flags in the ground around the Square. One member pulled out a measuring tape, a couple of other members each held a cordless drill and drilled holes into the ground to set the flags every “so many” inches apart.
The work went quickly as each Kiwanian who volunteered had his or her job to do. One volunteer pushed a cart carrying the flags, which were passed down the line to set in the ground.
Money raised from the flags, which were sold for $5 each, go to the club’s youth charities in Noblesville.
The Noon Kiwanis Club members put out several flags in memory of local Kiwanians who have passed, including Foster Barr, Bill Burton, Tom Burton, Gary Duvall, Robert Ellingwood, Kedrick E. Fisher, Chet Goble, William Harger, Everett Latham, Milton Meyer, Muret E. Nugent, Dale Swanson, Ray Townsend, Bill Vesey, Sam Weldy, Ralph Waltz, Maynard Wolf and more.
The Club also put out more than 100 large American flags all over town for the whole month of May.
“Looks amazing. I’m proud to be part of this wonderful group,” said Noon Kiwanian Becky Terry, the Boys & Girls Club of Noblesville’s executive director.
One of the Boys & Girls Club’s founders, Irving Heath, was named in memory on a Boys & Girls Club-purchased flag card.
Noblesville Noon Kiwanians placed about 200 small American flags, including this group of flags in memory of local Kiwanians, on the Hamilton County Courthouse Square for Memorial Day weekend.
I saw many more familiar names as I walked around the Square. One flag was in memory of Carl Fogelsong (local restaurant owner) from his loving family. Other flags in memory included Charles R. Kenley and Howard A. Kenley Jr., both from Tom Kenley; Alan Houk, Mr. and Mrs. Lester McKinsey, Wendell McIntyre, Lillian R. McGuire, W. Ray Lyttle Sr., Gertrude Luscomb and Benjamin Luscomb, Joe Lowe (U.S. Army), David Lowe (Air Force), Larry Letterman (Vietnam veteran), John Lawrence, Ray and Effie Kreag and Lillian Kreag, Ray Kinzer Jr., Robert Kenow and Kevin Kenow, Bill and Eva James (I remember the Jameses, David James’ parents, who were singers with the Senior Citizens organization), John Huntzinger, Thomas C. Hughes, U.S. Navy World War II veteran Edwin E. Huber, Chief Warrant Officer George Andrew Howes (MIA Vietnam War 1970-2010), Lyle Howell, Edward Hoss, Robert Horney, James Henry Hobson, James Hart, U.S. Army veteran Capt. Frank A. Hall, Frank Grube, L. Lee Gourley (USAF Vietnam MIA), Kenneth Godby, Joe Ginder, John E. Gan Jr. (USN) and Naomi C. Gang. There are many, many more names.
Flags also honored the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile), several Houghtalens, retired Lt. Col. Bruce McBride, Parker Lugenbeal, Kyle Lippott, Anthony Legari (U.S. Marine Corps), 2nd Howitzer Battalion 17th artillery, Dana Harvey (USMC) and Kenneth M. Harris.
The Kiwanians have been placing flags around the Square for more than 30 years, Kiwanians estimated. About the same group of Kiwanians volunteer each year to put up flags. “We’re a small but mighty group,” said Noon Kiwanis member Kathy Kreag Williams. Volunteers included Kiwanians David Burns, (and son Evan Burns), Joe Arrowood (and wife JoEllen Arrowood), Kathy Kreag Williams, Jake Doll, Thomas Aycock, Justin Pelkey and Becky Terry.
Cicero American Legion Post No. 341 set out American flags on Thursday, with a Cicero Memorial Day Parade set for 11 a.m. today through downtown Cicero.
The City of Carmel’s annual Memorial Day ceremony was Friday morning at Carmel Clay Veterans Memorial Plaza across from The Center for the Performing Arts.
Noblesville Noon Kiwanians put out about 200 American flags in memory of and in honor of loved ones or military servicemen and women for Memorial Day weekend.
In honor of Memorial Day, the Fishers American Legion placed flags on the graves of veterans in six cemeteries around Fishers.
Fishers American Legion will play host to a Post Everlasting Ceremony at noon Monday at the Lowell Beaver Post No. 470, 9091 E. 126th St., Fishers. Also on Monday, a traditional Noblesville Memorial Day service will take place at 11 a.m. at the Hamilton County War Memorial, with Noblesville Mayor Chris Jensen invited to speak.
U.S. Navy veteran Ron Wilson of Noblesville at 11:30 a.m. will read the names of veterans buried at Riverside Cemetery. A Rifle Salute and speech will be at 1 p.m. The Colors of All Branches provided by Navy Club and invited.
Memorial Day has been a national holiday for more than 50 years, since the act of Congress in 1971. Memorial Day honors all military members who have died while serving in the U.S. Forces.
I encourage you to attend any of these Memorial Day events to celebrate our veterans in Hamilton County.
– Contact Betsy Reason at [email protected].