Washburn recently contributed to a project to recognize and honor local heroes with a display of flags. The Avenue of Flags is being designed as a tribute to the sacrifices of military personnel, as well as those who contributed to the community in other ways.
Washburn’s flag will fly in memory of his father, former High Point Mayor Jess Washburn, under whose leadership the city’s primary water supply, Oak Hollow Lake, was created.
“I honored my dad with a flag, as he was truly one of my heroes in the way he lived his life and in his love for the city he served so well,” Washburn said. “Not a summer passes, if we have a drought, without people telling me we can thank your Dad that our city not only has plenty of water, but enough we can help other communities.”
City Councilman Latimer Alexander is spearheading the Avenue of Flags and said he hopes more people will be moved to make the same gesture as Washburn. Since rolling out the idea, Alexander said about 25 flags have been claimed for the initial display along Main Street between Russell and Montlieu avenues – an area that can accommodate up to 77 flags.
The goal is to have them up for Memorial Day or Flag Day, which is June 14, and display them annually on those days as well as the Fourth of July and Veterans Day.
The flags are available to members of the public for a $150 donation, which will provide a flag and a mount. The city will put the flags up, take them down and maintain them.
“It doesn’t necessarily have to be a veteran who is honored. Everybody has a role model,” said Alexander. “Every time I talk to someone who is making a donation and they tell me who they’re honoring, it’s always a wonderful human-interest story.”
Stewart Hartley of High Point decided to honor his father, Edgar Hartley, and others in his family who served in the military.
“Everybody grew up knowing him. He had six boys in his family, and all six of them served in the (military) – five of them during World War II and one during the Korean conflict,” Hartley said. “I just thought it was a nice idea to start with, and I thought it was a good way to honor the family.”
pkimbrough@hpe.com | 888-3531
Avenue of flags
For more information about the Avenue of Flags project or to obtain an order form, contact Latimer Alexander at latimeralexanderiv@gmail.com. The following are some of the organizations and individuals who have contributed to the Avenue of Flags project. Some made the donations in honor or memory of someone who is noted below:
• Triple Land Company, in honor of William C. Siceloff, Helen M. Siceloff
• Latimer Alexander, in honor of Bob Rankin, Rev. Dr. Howard Allred, Clyde Vaughn and Francis Payne
• Mr and Mrs. Harold Johnson
• Jill Anne Painter, in honor of Tom Broadwater
• Mr and Mrs. C. Morris Adams, in honor of C. Morris Adams
• Richard Kerr, in honor of Robert G. Edwards
• High Point Township Republicans, in honor of High Point Republican Club
• Marketplace Management Inc.
• Stewart Hartley, in honor of The Edgar Hartley Family of Six Veterans
• Mr and Mrs. James F. Morgan, in honor of J.V. Morgan, Capt. U.S. Air Force, Attorney at Law
• Keith or Darsay Eichhorn, in honor of Mr. Southgate Jones Jr.
• Dr. Gary and Vivian Biesecker, in honor of Gary L. Biesecker, MD, Capt. U.S. Navy Medical Corps, Retired
• Joe D. Floyd, in honor of Dr. E.W. “Buddy” Price Jr.
• Jordan and Lou Washburn DAF, in honor of Mr. and Mrs. Jess Washburn
• Strib Boynton
• David S. Thompson, in honor of Lewis W. Thompson
• Knights of Columbus, in honor of Bishop Hafly
• Mr and Mrs Charles M. Hicks, in honor of Warren Houston Hicks
• Paul and Jayne Lessard, in honor of Col. Paul F. Lessard, USMC, retired
• Joseph and Marilyn Deering, in honor of Joseph M. Deering, USMC Vietnam
• High Point Regional Association of Realtors, in honor of all members of the High Point Regional Association of Realtors
• Noah’s Tribe Christian Motorcycle Club, in honor of all military branches
• Karol Murks, in honor of Dr. F.S. Bryant Jr., Capt. US Army
• High Point Bank & Trust
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