Flags for freedom

Ashley Hunter
ECB Publishing, Inc.

There are over 100 flags lining the roadway on Waukeenah Highway.

The flags start a little less than a mile before Waukeenah Highway crosses over US 27 and continues for a lengthy drive past the intersection. The flags end near East Pinhook Road, creating a span of near five miles of flags.

The approximately 160 flags are the results of a patriotic effort put on by several members of the Jefferson County community and is a way for the area of Waukeenah to remember the freedoms and liberties that are celebrated during the July 4th Independence Day holiday.

The operation of placing flags along Waukeenah Highway began when a local man who lives in the area began placing flags on his own road. According to this man, who wished to remain anonymous, he had started the tradition of placing flags on his road as a mission during the cover of night.

“We used to go out at night and place flags around. It was fun to go out and have people wake up to flags along the road,” he said. However, he and his friends ultimately got caught – but rather than face disapproval, they were asked to expand their undercover operation and place flags along Waukeenah Highway.

On Wednesday, July 1, for the Independence Day holiday, the four men went out and lined the highway with large, patriotic flags.

“We didn't do it for recognition,” he adds. “We did it so we could wake up the next morning and see the people on Facebook getting all teary-eyed and patriotic.”

The flags were taken down on the evening of Monday, July 6, but the flag-organizers said that the community of Waukeenah should be on the lookout for future flags. The group received donations from the community, which will go towards purchasing more flags, as they are already planning to put out about 100 more flags next year.