From the May 26th Star Democrat story by Chris Polk:
You know it’s Memorial Day weekend in Easton when you pass enormous fields of American flags fluttering in the breeze — a stunning visual display that speaks of the true meaning of Memorial Day like no other.
They are all over town and Talbot County: the Easton Parkway, Londonderry, the Oxford Causeway, the Talbot Community Center and more. Flags for Heroes is in its eighth year, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Easton.
In the Flags for Heroes program, folks sponsor a flag to honor their loved ones, military, police or medical responders, teachers, mentors, those who have made an impact in their lives and more.
In the past seven years, about $250,000 has been raised to benefit more than 30 local community organizations, many of which provide services to veterans.
Organizations that received funds include the substance abuse awareness program Talbot Goes Purple; the Talbot Mental Health Association’s Veterans Fund, which assists Eastern Shore veterans in need; Operation Open Arms, an organization that provides service men and women suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder with vacations to Talbot County; Talbot County Paramedic Foundation, which received funding toward the purchase of lifesaving equipment; Talbot Hospice, which received specific funding for veterans who comprise 20% of the patients spending their last days at Hospice House; the Easton Civil Air Patrol, a volunteer organization and official auxiliary of the United States Air Force that follows a military-style program for cadets ages 12 to 21 who are interested in enlisting or entering a military academy or perusing ROTC scholarship opportunities; Easton High School NJROTC; the Easton Police Department; and the Easton Volunteer Fire Department.
In 2018, Flags for Heroes supported American Legion Blake-Blackston Post 77, an integral force in supporting veterans’ needs, from navigating the benefits process to assisting in locating affordable housing and providing community organizations with programming that help youth and families.
In preparation of its 100th anniversary celebration in 2020, Post 77 is expanding its community involvement, and its “Building to Serve” campaign will renovate, expand and modernize its Glenwood Avenue space.
In January 2018, during the U. S. federal government shutdown, Flags for Heroes was able to react quickly and help with financial support those members of the U.S. Coast Guard Station in Oxford through the Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, also in Oxford.
For more information about Flags for Heroes, visit www.flagsforheroes.org.