The annual Flags for Heroes display presented by the Denton Rotary will feature an added twist this year. Typically, American flags dedicated to the memory, service, or commitment of friends and loved ones have been erected by the club at the intersection of Route 404 and River Road (the Wright Farm) near West Denton as well as on the courthouse green in downtown Denton for two weeks each coinciding with both Memorial Day and Veterans Day. Plans have changed in 2020, however, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The flag display will now honor heroes on three separate occasions.

While the Rotary is optimistic that Coronavirus restrictions will be lifted prior to Memorial Day weekend, no guarantees can be made about the accessibility of this first display. Nonetheless, the club is committed to following social distancing protocol in order to place the flags at the traditional Market Street location in late May as members feel doing so would provide a morale boost to local citizens as well as salute essential area workers even if the tribute can ostensibly be viewed by most through pictures at that time.

Hopefully, the COVID-19 quarantines will be a memory by July. It is the plan of the club to do its conventional sponsored displays surrounding the Independence Day holiday at both locations, which is new, and then return to the regularly scheduled Veterans Day timetable. If you are interested in commemorating the selfless actions of a veteran, someone currently in military service, an indefatigable volunteer, a first responder, or other impactful person in your life, please contact Ann Jacobs (443-496-1755; amacjacobs@gmail.com) to register. Sponsorships are $25 per flag per two-week observance and for $10 more will feature a placard to describe the contributions of the honoree.

Sponsorship of the Flags for Heroes celebration benefits the Rotary Club Community Fund, which reinvests the entirety of the proceeds into area philanthropic causes. The organization helps financially support a variety of regional efforts, including the Imagination Library, Scout Troop 165, Lifetime Well Drilling in Africa, academic scholarships, and a yearly career fair for local tenth graders, among other major projects. The names of sponsors are published in local media to thank those who participated in the Flags for Heroes campaign.

The Denton Rotary hopes that members of the community will take time to visit and reflect upon the flags while on display this year.