5 minute read
Veteran’s Corner
THE GIFT OF
PATRIOTISM By Sandra McKinney
“I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.” ― Charles Dickens
The Spirit of Christmas-giving started early this year…in fact, it started in the month of May when our local veterans began collecting funds for a giant flagpole and United States flag. It started with pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters, and then the paper money began to be stuffed into the collection boxes. The idea of the flag started to “catch fire” and local businesses wrote checks for large amounts. Gallup is, after all, the Most Patriotic Small Town in America. Collections were made throughout the summer at every event the veterans attended. People from all around the Four Corners contributed to the flag project.
We wrote about Randal and Vesta Hasler back in the May issue of the Journey telling how the “idea sparked” to have a large flag placed somewhere within Gallup. It truly was their idea which got the donations rolling in, although, many other veterans and civilian residents of Gallup had the thought in the back of their minds.
Then the idea came about to raise the flag on the day that Governor Martinez and other veteran officials would be in Gallup to dedicate the land for the National Veterans Cemetery. This is when the flag became a community project. Randal and Vesta Henry went to work contacting the crews that would be needed to complete the project. Community businesses stepped in to assist: Robert Roche of Gallup Land Partners donated the land for the flag. The McKinley County Road Crew graded the road up the hill to the flag. The City of Gallup Electrical Department started the various holes for the base of the flag and dug the trench from the flag position to the transformer for the electrical conduit. Matthew Long with Murphy Builders stepped in with his crew to finish digging the 8-foot hole; they placed the sleeve in the hole that would hold the flag and prepared the hole with the framing for the concrete. John Kozeliski of Bubany Lumber
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Raising of the flag at dawn for the test run the day the National Veterans Cemetery was dedicated
Vesta and Randal Henry holding the plaque which will be placed at the base of the flag
Veterans saluting the flag as it is raised on Veterans Day
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supplied 30 bags of silica sand to fill the sleeve that supports the flag pole.
C & E Concrete provided 16 yards of concrete (two truckloads) to fill the 8-foot hole and create the base of the flag.
Murphy Builders’ crew oversaw the pouring and leveling of the concrete.
Jerry and Jay Hinkley and crew of Hinkley Signs set the 80-foot flag pole into the sleeve.
City of Gallup Electrical crew hooked up the electricity to the flag pole.
The quilters of the Quilts of Valor group are making a bag to store the flag when not flying.
On October 25th, a large assembly of people was on the hill at 7:00am to raise the flag for the very first time. The early hour allowed the flag to rise as the sun broke over the eastern horizon. It was a very emotional sight. There were veterans, City officials, civilians; every one of them a patriot! This was the test run and the flag was flying proudly for the dedication of the grounds for the National Veterans Cemetery further down Hasler Valley Road. It was very exciting to be involved in the initial raising of the giant flag. I-40 is right below, and we could hear car horns and 18-wheelers honking at the sight. A huge cheer went up from the gathered crowd when the Stars and Stripes reached the top of the pole. There were tears shed on that morning, particularly by veterans who had fought for the glory of Old Faithful. At 5:00pm that evening, the flag was lowered with dignity and respect so work could be completed on the electricity and the lighting.
November 11, 2017 — Veterans Day — was a very full day of patriotism and recognition of our veterans. A wreathlaying was held at Hillcrest Cemetery, and then a large group of patriots paraded from Hillcrest to the Court House Square where ceremonies were held. At 1:00pm a very large contingent of patriots gathered at The National Guard Armory on Hasler Valley Road to witness Old Glory rise into the blue sky and clouds. Once again, many veterans and supporters were on top of the hill for the honor of assisting with the flag-raising. Even though many of them had been involved with the test-run, you could see the pride in the veteran’s faces as they saluted the flag when it reached the top of the pole. The sun was shining brightly and greeted the flag in full splendor.
We extend our gratitude to Randal and Vesta Henry for their vision of a large flag to fly in Gallup, New Mexico. We thank the many businesses and individuals listed above for their donation of time, knowledge, and product to raise this flag. We thank all the many, many business owners, individuals; adults and small children who made monetary donations from change in their pocket to checks from their bank account. This is THE PEOPLE’S FLAG!! The plaque which will be placed at the base of the flag Gallup’s Patriot Guard protecting the perimeter as the flag is permanently raised on Veterans Day The People’s Flag flying in all its glory
