The flag is again flying proudly at Four Corners
“Seeing that flag flying against the blue sky is a beautiful thing,” said one Pine Island citizen who attended the flag raising ceremony at the Four Corners on Wednesday, Nov. 9.
For more tan seven years, since Hurricane Charley, the flagpole had been listing due to damage incurred during the storm and no flag flew from it. Thanks to the efforts of Lynda Newman, chair of the Americanism Committee at the American Legion Ladies’ Auxiliary, the pole was repaired. But the flag which had flown on it was very tattered and had to be retired.
“It was so sad for me to sit here in my office and not see the flag all this time,” said Jeannette Jones, whose real estate office is located in the Four Corners complex. “I wrote my letter to the editor out of sheer frustration, but look at what it achieved.”
On Wednesday, a new flag donated by artist Leoma Lovegrove and the Lee County Patriots was raised by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office Color Guard during a community ceremony attended by more than 100 citizens.
Sheriff Mike Scott was the featured speaker and told those assembled how proud they should be.
“I want to shake the hand of everyone here,” he said.
And he did, including the Eagle Choir and entire fifth-grade class from Pine Island Elementary, who sang the national anthem after the flag had been raised.
Also in attendance were Capt. Richard Dobson from the sheriff’s office Pine Island substation, Deputy Chief Joseph Marzella from the Matlacha/Pine Island Fire District and Principal Rob Mazolli from the elementary school.
“This is an important event for our students,” said Mazolli, who led the crowd in pledging allegiance to the new flag. “We can’t teach them enough how important it is to value our country and its traditions.”
Dan Mele, a veteran and new Pine Island citizen, thinks a POW MIA flag should also be flying under the new American flag.
“I’ll take up a collection and be sure to get one,” he said at the ceremony.
The next day he reported that he had ordered the flag.
“I met John Cammick from Pine Island Palms at the school’s Veterans’ Day ceremony, mentioned my desire to have such a flag on the community pole and he told me he would donate it,” Mele said. “I am so glad I moved here. What great people I’ve met already.”
Lovegrove and the Patriots also purchased a back-up flag, but flags will be needed in the future.
“Our weather can be severe at times and we know there will be an ongoing need for flag donations,” she said. “We have had a third flag donated by Dee Brennan and Travis Bownes from Center Bait & Tackle, and we hope other businesses and citizens will pledge to donate flags in the coming years.”
The cost of a flag is $59.95.
If you would like to donate a flag, call Kathy Jones at 283-2074.