Keeping the flags flying
By Marlin (Marty) Martin Chandler, Texas

Courtesy Photo Do you know where this is? If so what is wrong with this picture?

On Sept. 11, 2007 a tragic event took place.

Driving to Chandler, I noted the flags at half staff at Winchester Park and the Henderson County Courthouse Annex.

As I turned the corner at FM 315 and State Hwy. 31, I could see flags at businesses on both sides of SH 31.

I was proud to be a resident of the Chandler area and see that the good citizens of Chandler were remembering Sept. 11

As I drove toward Tyler, my heart was happy, my head held high, my chest swelled with pride as I saw all the flags at the different businesses along the highway.

Then to my dismay, I passed the Chandler Public Library, where the twin towers stood alone in the corner of the parking lot. At their base was the Veterans Memorial. The twin towers of which I speak are the two flag poles, which were both absent a flag.

The proud, patriotic feeling that had been steadily welling up inside me, as I passed the businesses with flags proudly flying, was suddenly dashed.

In its place was an immediate feeling of sadness and disbelief.

How could it be that the Veterans Memorial had no flags to lower to half staff to commemorate Sept. 11?

The Memorial was built with donated money, by the patriotic citizens and veterans of the Chandler area. However all funds were used to build the Memorial, with no money set aside to maintain the Memorial.

For flags to be flown at night, they need to be illuminated. A floodlight at the base of the flags has been repaired. The two floodlights mounted on the roof of the Library are now working, the site has been power washed, new ropes and attachment hardware are on the poles, and new flags (donated by the Chandler Cemetery Association) are now proudly flying.

A fund, "Chandler Area Veterans Memorial Maintenance Account" has been set up at Citizens State Bank. I ask that the good citizens of the Chandler area donate to that account at any Citizens State Bank, so that the twin sentinels standing over the Memorial may always have a flag to bear.

The Chandler Cemetery Association has pledged to provide flags. Funds will be used to keep the lights burning and the ropes and hardware in good repair, so that the flags will ALWAYS be flying. Thank you in advance for caring.

Awaiting to receive a tax ID# has caused the delay in getting this in the paper. There is now an ID#.