Cemetery Board discusses flags

The Riverside Cemetery Board discussed Hawk’s Avenue of Flags at their meeting last Thursday.

The Cemetery Board had recently had communication issues with representatives for Hawk’s Avenue of Flags — a program to honor veterans that takes place at Riverside Cemetery — regarding putting the Avenue of Flags up for Reunion Weekend.

Julie Lehman, a representative for Hawk’s Avenue of Flags, said she knew the board had some questions about some misunderstandings about putting the flags up for other special occasions.

“We know you guys had some questions about some misunderstandings and some bumps in the road since this project started, so we’re hear to answer questions if you have any for us,” she said. “Maybe we can move forward."

Board member Mary Jane Starnes said she thinks the Hawk’s Avenue of Flags is a good idea and she was impressed Memorial Day weekend.

“I thought you did a very good job,” she said. “The only thing is I think we should have a schedule when you’re going to fly these flags. I think it’s only fair to our employees that they know when you’re going to be out there doing this. They should know what’s going on.”

Lehman said the group wants a member of the Cemetery Board on their committee so that the communication would not get lost. She said several people requested to have the Avenue of Flags up for Reunion Weekend because they bought flags and they do not come home for Memorial Day.

“Reunion Weekend — In our minds when we asked for it, we asked for Veterans Day, Memorial Day and special occasions,” she said. “That’s where the misunderstanding came from. We thought we had that covered.”

“Special occasions, does that mean the second Tuesday of each month?” Rose Watkins, Chair of the Cemetery Board, said.

“Well, you know that’s neither here nor there now,” Lehman said. “We’ve been asked by several veterans to put them up for funerals, but it’s a major problem. We don’t want them going up too many times a year because the flags are going to wear out and it’s a major program putting them up and taking them down.”

Board Member Basil Sorenson said Hawk’s Avenue of Flags is meant to be special, and pointed out other things in Thermopolis meant to honor veterans.

“The Christmas tree downtown is no longer the Christmas tree,” he said. “It hasn’t been for years. It’s the Veterans Tree. Bicentennial Park is to honor veterans. You might want to talk to them, because that is a veteran tree and a veteran park.”

Lehman said she received a letter from the board saying the group could only put up the flags for Memorial Day and Veterans Day.

“Unfortunately the communication broke down somewhere but moving forward, we received your letter and you said Veterans Day and Memorial Day,” she said.

Lehman said they are looking at possibly putting the flags up in Hot Springs State Park for the Fourth of July and Reunion Weekend in the future. She said park superintendent Kevin Skates is enthusiastic about the idea and there will be future discussions about displaying Hawks Avenue of Flags in the park.

“I do think the park would be just right because that’s where the whole class gathers,” Board Member John Huckman said.

Starnes also suggested creating a pamphlet explaining who each flag represents because some people who drive to the cemetery cannot get out and walk around. Lehman said there are little plaques on all of the poles giving that information.

“They just can’t walk around and it’s hard to see those plaques sometimes from their vehicle,” Starnes said.

“That will be something that everybody will agree on as we move forward,” Lehman said. “We haven’t gotten to that point yet. We’re still regrouping.”

Lehman said the group does not want to put the flags up and down so many times a year that people forget about them.

“We still want the ‘wow’ factor,” she said. “It was impressive when people were wowed by it. We want to continue that.”