Below is a statement WEIS News received by email on Monday regarding why the Avenue of Flags was not displayed during the Memorial Day Holiday, any further questions should be directed to the Spirit of Cherokee.
The Spirit of Cherokee regrets not being able to put the Avenue of Flags (Hwy 411 from Centre to Leesburg) out on Memorial Day. There was water standing in sections of the median from the heavy rain Friday night. Over the year as progress has been made with increase of shopping centers and businesses along Hwy 411, the drainage in the median has changed. There was a 60% chance of rain from noon to 4:00 p.m. It takes 2 ½ to 3 hours to put out the flags, and same to take them down. If they get wet, it is very hard to dry them. We are blessed to have a sheriff who allows inmates to put out and take down the flags and crosses, and help keep the median clean of trash. There is a big problem with trash being littered along the highway. The City of Centre and the Town of Leesburg take care of keeping the median mowed and manicured.
We will do our best to put them out on Flag Day in June. It saddens us when we are not able to put them out due to weather. The crosses represent so many heroes from our area. We have also been trying to get street lights along the avenue that will allow us to leave them out for more than one day.
Important things to remember when displaying a flag; traditional guidelines call for displaying the flag in public only from sunrise to sunset. However, the flag may be displayed at all times if it’s illuminated during darkness. The flag should not be subject to weather damage, so it should not be displayed during rain, snow and wind storms unless it is an all-weather flag. The flag should never be fastened or displayed in a way that will permit it to be damaged or soiled.
The Taste of Cherokee will be taking place on June 27th at 5:30pm at the Gadsden State Cherokee Arena. The Taste is thirty plus restaurants and caterers serving their specialty dish for you to taste. There will be a patriotic program followed with a concert by The Voice contestant, Savannah Leighton from Spring Garden, AL. The Taste of Cherokee is a fund raiser to help fund the Avenue of Flags and the upkeep it requires.
Thank you for your support to the Avenue of Flags.
The Spirit of Cherokee is a non -profit organization of Volunteers who sponsor events: The Taste of Cherokee, The Avenue of Flags, Miss Snowflake Pageant, and The County Christmas Parade. We appreciate all the volunteers who help with these events. We are always looking for more volunteers.
