An annual tradition is back this holiday weekend in Danville. This year marks the 23rd anniversary of the Rotary Memorial Way.
Dean Grimes was one of the crew members placing scores of small American Flags Friday along Danville’s busiest street….
{AUDIO: ‘’We are putting out flags along North Vermilion all the way up to Wal-Mart with various veterans names and other people’s names that individuals wanted to sponsor. We’ve been doing this for a number of years. It helps fund some of our projects. It helps fund the War Museum as well, so it’s just a great, wonderful project.’’}
Grimes says there’s a message attached to each flag….
{AUDIO: ‘’Each flag has an individuals name on it that’s being honored. Or it may just be honoring all who served.’’}
The Danville Rotary Club Memorial Way project has each year raised between $8-thousand and $10-thousand dollars for the club. The money is raised by selling $5 sponsorships for each flag. Individuals, businesses and corporations from all over Vermilion County sponsoring flags has allowed the Rotary Club to put out more than 2,000 of them each year.
Rick Rotramel, co-chairman of the project, says the money goes to the Vermilion County War Museum, the Sparky Songer Scholarship at Danville Area Community College, the VA and the Rotary Club to support its projects.
Grimes thinks Danville’s Rotary Memorial Way is something special…
{AUDIO: ‘’You know it’s got to be amazing for people coming in town – particularly from the north going south. As they hit Walmart and see a sea of flags on both sides of the road for multiple, multiple blocks all the way down to English Street. I don’t know any other town that does this type of event.’’}
The flags are also placed at Danville’s war memorials and the Vermilion County War Museum.
