New flag flies atop old pole again

An effort to keep an American flag flying in an unlikely spot saw success last week as the stars and strips were hoisted proudly above Delano Friday.

Anyone traveling between Delano and Electric City can see it to the south of the highway. It's easily the highest flag in the area.

Jay Kemble and Mike Rounds made the trek to the top of the large rocky hill that separates the Delano neighborhood from Electric City and raised the flag on a pole fashioned long ago by long-dead patriot Wade Burnside.

Kemble said the effort started last April, after a Delano resident noticed the pole lacked a flag. Another flag had been raised earlier this year, but a windstorm shredded it.

"The community came together again," Kemble said. "It's a great community."

Jerry Beireman donated the flags. Janet Doughty donated a solar-powered light, and Coulee Hardware gave cables and clamps to the cause. Ron Myszewski and Nick Heilman helped raise the earlier flag.

The pole is built into an old boiler on a massive hinge, all of which was hauled up to the top by Burnside, on foot, at least 200 feet above his home below, which was built from the remnants of the historic Green Hut restaurant.