Free flags for vets’ graves at ‘Field of Honor’

Staff Report

Since mid-May 1984, when the Rockford daily newspaper headlined, “No free flags for vets,” a cooperative effort by Rockford-area florists provided more than 100,000 free flags for vets’ graves.

The liquidation of B. Sanfield, deaths of Jim Adams and Ed Didier require a new initiative. “Free Flags for Vets’ Graves” will be available this year at the Field of Honor on Riverside Boulevard. If you are coming from North Second Street to Riverside, turn west, and it’s at the second traffic light on Riverside. If you are coming from Forest Hills Road to Riverside, turn east. It will be the second traffic light on Riverside.

Lee Hartsfield, who has been organizing this project, said the flags are available for pick-up 24 hours a day, all during May. “I started with 2,000 (flags),” he said, “and there are about 1,000 left.”

From the May 18-24, 2011 issue