How Roselle solved shortage of flags problem

Referring to Lauren Zannini's letter to the editor on June 11, titled "Where were the flags?" maybe she would like to start a program in Elgin similar to what we just launched in Roselle: Flags for Roselle.

Memorial Day saw volunteers installing 3- by 5-foot U.S. Flags on 8-foot poles in 189 front yards in our town. The program, a brainchild of a similar program in Blue Mounds, Wisconsin, chaired by Lake Park High School alumna Kelly Barclay Deterding, met with great success and enthusiasm.

Lake Park, the Village of Roselle, the American Legion and the Roselle History Museum partnered to encourage residents to purchase subscriptions for $40. That tax-deductible contribution will cover the installation of flags on four holidays: Memorial Day, Flag Day, Independence Day and Veterans Day.

The volunteers install the flags between 7 and 8 a.m. on the holiday and remove them at dusk the same day. The Roselle Fire Department has made space at its station for storing the flags. Proceeds will be shared by the LPHS Educational Foundation, the Roselle Historical Foundation, and the Roselle American Legion Charitable Foundation.

Local businesses that helped defray the costs of the event are Thrivent Financial Services and Printing Plus of Roselle.

We are confident this first-of-a-kind program will continue to grow year after year.

If Ms. Zannini is interested in initiating such a program in her town, she may contact the Roselle History Museum at rosellehistory@sbcglobal.net for some helpful hints.

Kay Cahill

Chairman, Flags for Roselle Committee