Lions, Optimists raise flags over Perry Monday

0
1284
The Flags over Perry project, a partnership of the Perry Lions Club and Perry Optimist Club International, raised the U.S. flag at the Big Bike at the Perry Welcome Depot at First and Willis avenues. Photo courtesy Ray Harden

Smoke from forest fires in the northwestern parts of North America partly obscured the Iowa sun Monday, yielding an orange haze in the morning. Photo courtesy Nick Eakins

The Perry Lions Club and the Perry Optimist Club International raised more than 250 U.S. flags around Perry Monday morning to celebrate Labor Day.

Sunrise and sunset were hard to gauge because the smoke of many forest fires clouded the sky, but the volunteers in the Flags over Perry program started at 7 a.m. and finished at 6:30 p.m. The flag partnership of the two service organization is in its second year.

“The flags made Willis Avenue look very festive on this cloudy day,” said Perry Lion Ray Harden, who teamed with Lion Bob Roeder to raise 22 flags. About 10 teams of Optimists and Lions participate in the holiday flag raisings.

For a fee of $25, Perry residents can have the Perry Lions and Perry Optimists place an American Flag on their property on five federal holidays yearly. Interested residents can fill out an order form or contact Lion Dave Wright at 515-240-7281.

Money raised from the flag project funds Optimist Club scholarships for Perry youth and Lions Club projects, such as eyeglasses for the needy, seeing-eye dogs, summer camp for handicapped children and many other worthwhile activities.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.