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VFW posts holiday flags at Reidsville and Collins
VFW prepares to post court house flag L-r: Ronnie McCall, Wayne Campbell, Gina Hall, Coa Corbett, Joe Boyett, Casey Corbett, Bill Kulick, Mary Harley, Raymond Sanders and Billy Morgan
VFW prepares to post court house flag; L-r: Ronnie McCall, Wayne Campbell, Gina Hall, Coa Corbett, Joe Boyett, Casey Corbett, Bill Kulick, Mary Harley, Raymond Sanders and Billy Morgan

VFW members posted holiday flags at the Tattnall Veterans’ Memorial Park and the Court House Square Friday morning before going to Collins to help Mayor Elect Charles Rushton post the flags at Collins.  As is the custom, the big flag was posted on the front of the Tattnall County Court House. Seven VFW members and 3 members of the VFW Auxiliary were present and made relatively short work of the task. 

Early in December Mayor elect Charles Rushton asked the VFW for help in getting the Collins flag posting detail in Collins up and running again. Additionally he is interested in using the pattern developed in Reidsville to make the posting and retrieving as well as storing the flags simple and easier to carry out. 

The large commercial poles used in Collins are impressive, but they are thin wall aluminum and as such they are relatively easy to bend in handling or on windy days. A large number of the poles were bent and unsuitable for use.  Replacing them piecemeal could be somewhat expensive.  Also many of the bases were full of mud due to the rainy conditions in the area last summer through the present. 

“Our approach is to use three-quarter inch electrical metal conduit for poles and build our own,” Commander Ronnie McCall said.  “It makes for really good poles and they are easy and comparatively  inexpensive to replace in cases where they are bent.  Furthermore they are easy to transport in a trailer or a pickup.  We can put out 160 flags in less than an hour with four people.  Earl Boyett makes a plug that seals the base and keeps out dirt and debris.  We could do something similar in Collins. It could make the whole process easier and more efficient.”

Mayor Rushton has asked Post 7764 to help with the changeover and the group agreed.  “We appreciate your help in getting the flag program up and going again, and we are going to pay you back.  Your drop box for supplies for military veterans at the Carl Vinson Hospital is going to be running over when you come to pick it up, and I am going to provide the meat for the meal at the next VFW meeting.” Most anyone who has eaten at the Bobcat or other restaurants over the years would probably say  that is an offer no one (in their right mind) could refuse.