 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| AMERICAN LEGION POST 7 1688 W BAKERVIEW RD BELLINGHAM WA 98226 OFFICE 360-734-3110 LOUNGE 360-734-1397 |
| Lounge Hours Mon-Sat Open at Noon Sun Open 2P.M. Office Hours Tue - Fri 9-4 |
| Dec. 25 2009, 5:30 A.M. I stepped out of the house to get the newspaper, it was foggy, but the 144 American Flags in my yard and flower beds made my day. I thought I woke up in Arlington National Cemetery. The greatest bunch of guys (Sons of the American Legion) had flagged me. This is the greatest idea since the invention of the wheel. Thank You and Best Regards Ron Clapp |
On January 2nd, 2010 I was Flagged. I was real surprised and honored to have all these flags displayed in my yard. I am proud to have served in the U.S. Army in Korea. The American Legions S.A.L. has come up with a great idea. Lyle Leavitt |
| What an honor to be “Flagged” by your friends who are also Fellow Veterans. I’m blessed to be surrounded by 144 American Flags. I wanted the flags to remain but I know it was time to “pay it forward” to another deserving Veteran. Thank You and God Bless America Paul Wentlands LCDR USN RET 1966-1988 |
| 02/15/10 I got out of bed about 630 A.M., went about my regular but I could see what looked like 150 small American Flags. I went back inside, yelled at my wife to come and look at our front lawn. I already had tears rolling down my cheeks as we held on to each other and I said “what an honor to see such a marvelous front yard. There was a note saying who had placed the Flags there and I read that the Sons of the American Legion, Post #7 were responsible. It is hard to believe they could have time to do such a marvelous undertaking. We will always be proud to have this happen to us. Many people came by and took pictures. Thank You So Much. John & Vivian Burley U.S. Merchant Marine WWII |
| 02/20/10 I am a 65 year member of the American Legion, and I was sure I knew every program and activity. This was one of the biggest honors I have ever received. I thank the Sons of the American Legion for “Flagging” me and all their great ideas and energy. God Bless this Great Country – The U.S.A. Carl Hamm |
| I had the great honor of being the “chosen one” to be Flagged with what seemed like 100 American Flags. It was very humbling that I was to be recognized for my service to my country, the American Legion and my fellow friends. I immediately had to film my yard as the long grass decorated with many flags never looked so good. Many thanks for this honor. I will cherish this memory forever. Steve Hanson Ret. MSGT USAF US Navy, 1959-1965 USAF 1971-1987 |
| My wife Lillian was setting in the living room watching TV on a Friday night & earl was in the computer room. I got up and looked out the front window and saw our lawn full of flags. I hollered and told Earl and he thought I was loosing it. What a beautiful display it was. Thanks for the work and the honor of the SAL Earl Rowe |
| Donna was the first to notice that we had been flagged as she drove off to work that day. When she got to work, she called me to look out the garage door. I was expecting to see a beautiful red sky but to my surprise I saw a beautiful sea of red, white and blue flags. When our three year old granddaughter, Rebekah came over that day, she had to go around and count each individual flag This was a true Blessing. Ben Barker |
| March 1, 2010 WOW – I’m not a Veteran but I am a member of the SAL and a Proud AMERICAN. To be “Flagged” was just awesome – to find 144 flags decorating our front yard was incredible – what a sight. This is a wonderful thing the SAL is doing and I hope it continues. I will do my part by having the flags sent to decorate the yard of a WWII Veteran. Thanks for selecting me to be honored by this deed… Roger Buss |
| My deepest gratitude and thanks for honoring me for my service in the US Army by Flagging me with all those 144 flags which were decorating my front and side yard. When I arrived home that night in the dark I couldn’t believe what I was seeing, what a surprise! To see all those flags, my first thoughts were, what on earth happened? I don’t think my name was in the obituary, did someone think I died and wanted to honor me in this way? I really do appreciate and approve of this flagging fundraiser to any and all Veterans who have served our Country. I served in the Army during WWII in the 1st Infantry Division from 1943 to 1946 Ralph C. Carmichael |
| 02/04/10 Thank You for this Honor. So much to do but it’s worth it Robert Paylor USAF 1963-1967 |
| My Kids Flagged Me!!! On my birthday, age 85, Surprised? I guess! I served in the Navy in WWII in the South Pacific on the Aircraft Carrier USS SHANGRI-LA C.V.38 with Squadron 85 as a Gunner in Dive Bombers. I served with Pride. The Flag Salute always meant a lot to me. To me it means PEACE, FREEDOM and HONOR to be a part of the U.S.A. Bernie Visser AOM 2/C U.S. Navy WWII |
| I’ve Been Flagged - There have been only a few times in my life where I have been totally surprised. On Saturday, March 15th, 2010, my wife and I returned from attending a evening dinner and dance at the VFW in Bellingham. As we neared our home in Birch Bay Village our outdoor lights lit up a avenue of flags surrounding our home. I noticed there was something attached to our front door knob. My wife Virginia got out of our car while I parked our car in the garage. By then she had taken off the information from the door knob that stated that we were flagged by Walt DeKraai of Lynden. I remember a article that was in the Bellingham Herald a few weeks back telling about a fund raiser by the SAL. I never would have expected tat this would happen to me. What a great honor. This is something I will always remember as I grow older. Jim Pace - U.S. Army - Vietnam 70-71 |
| Master Flagger - Joe Stephens 360-220-0118 jstephens@wwdb.org |
| 3/29/10 Flags are a symbol of freedom. Freedom is what I fought for in the Navy in WWII. The Flags that were placed in my yard made me feel proud to be an American and proud I fought for my Country. I appreciate being remembered. Chester Ressler |
| 17 Feb 2010 Dear Sons of the American Legion Thank you for the Beautiful Flagging. Along with my American Flag and POW Flag on the pole, it is a wonderful display. I have thanked my good friend and speaking partner Joe Moser. How you did it without our knowing it is a mystery to us – we did not see anything until 10:30 that night. Enclosed is my check for $100.00 for your projects. I would like you to Flag Gerald Metzger at 6503 Vista Dr. Gerald was awarded the Bronze Star for his action in combat, has been Santa Claus in Ferndale for many years, and is an active member of the Whatcom County Search and Rescue Service. As a former Adjutant and Commander of the Ferndale Legion Post and present Commander of the 4th Corner Chapter of the American Ex-P.O.W.’S –you can know how much that Flag means to me. Thank You Again - Dick Stone |
| My family and I had arrived home at nearly 1:00 AM on 3-9-2010 from vacation. I had been informed earlier that day that we had been “TP’d”. I wasn’t looking forward to getting home so late and cleaning up toilet paper from my home. Much to my surprise and amazement when we turned the corner, our headlights shone brightly on all those flags that were placed so very nicely about my yard! I stopped the car short of hitting the curb and gasped. Tears came to my eyes as I was filled with Honor and Pride to have served this great nation. My kids & wife were mesmerized. Just days before I had completed Joe Moser’s book “A Fighter Pilot in Buchenwald”. I have known Joe for just a couple of years. He came to the Fire “Department for a ride-a-long”. What a day! A few calls here and there, then came lunch. Joe tried to buy the Firefighters lunch! “No way” I said, “You are our guest, we will take care of you”. As we sat down to eat, Joe started talking of a book he was in (the name escapes me now). He then told us of his story in WWII. Not a bite was eaten by the Firefighters as Joe talked. Our jaws hit the table and our eyes never left his direction. How proud I was to be eating lunch with this man!! Just a few weeks ago I saw Joe’s yard filled with flags and I thought…”Not Joe”. My wife had called to tell me Joe was on TV. “WHEW” I thought. My next thought was of sheer joy for Joe. This man deserves recognition as do thousands of others. I hope this carries on. I made my way to work and the straight to Joe’s house to shake his hand once again to say “Thank You Sir for serving.” It is a great honor to have a WWII Veteran recognize me, a Persian Gulf Veteran. Thank You Gerald Metzger for your service and Thank You to ALL Veterans and Civil Service Personnel for all your service to our Communities SEMPER FI - CPL Mark Kuhl, USMC Weapons Company 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines - Scout Platoon Operations: Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Desert Calm and Operation Sea Angel |
| I turned the corner to go and visit my parents (Walt and Jean Dekraai) and saw such a beautiful sight. A sea of Red, White and Blue Flags surrounding their house. It took my breath away. As I took in this patriotic display, I thought of many things. My 88 year old Dad serving our country as a young man in WWII as a Navy Seabee, seeing my older brother in his Naval uniform, my son in his Air Force uniform; all of them probably frightened but proud, brave, wanting to serve our country. They answered the call, knowing the sacrifice, as have so many others. All of them our American Heroes. My chest swells with pride, I hope everyone who saw those flags set out with care by the Sons of the American Legion felt like I did, humbled, grateful and proud to be an American. Susan Bradley Lynden WA |
| 3-18-2010 There are no words that can describe our surprise when leaving the house that morning. Over 100 Flags adorning the lawn. It looked so beautiful and we felt so proud Thank You Greg Brethour for having us “Flagged”. We thank him and all of our Veterans for their service to our Country and for being defenders of the Flag. Old Glory – She is a sight and seeing hundreds of them in the front yard makes us proud. God Bless our Veterans, the SAL and God Bless America. Bruce & Patricia Lierman |
| 3-12-2010 Getting home from work and finding a yard full of Flags is something I will never forget. I still have tears in my eyes as I am writing this. I have always felt most people didn’t care for Vietnam and just wanted it to go away. Trying to put it in the past has been hard to do. For some of us it will never go away. This act of kindness will help. I want to thank my daughter Marcie and my son in-law Mark Kuhl for doing this for me. Also I thank my wife for putting up with me all those years. Last but not least to thank the Sons of the American Legion for the great service they are doing. America is a great Country and I was proud to serve. Jim Johnson Vietnam Dec 67 – Dec 68 1st Calvary Division Flight Engineer CH 47 Chinook |
| 3-20-2010 morning was truly a beautiful sight. I was a little stunned that someone would do this for me. I want to thank Jim Hale & Greg Clifton for doing this. It was an honor to have those flags flying in our yard for a week and I would like to share this with all Veterans. We were asked by a lot of people what was the occasion so we were able to tell a little bit about the Sons of the American Legion and the work they do. Thank you to all who made this possible and God Bless all of our Veterans and all of our young men and women now serving. Sincerely Gene Tinklenberg 7th Marine Regiment - Scout Snipers Vietnam 69-70 |
