The city of Jamestown, its businesses and residents are coming through to display their patriotism in a big way.
The Flags Across America committee has raised much of the money needed for phase one of its project -- hoisting a 120-foot flag pole and 30-foot by 60-foot American flag over Fort Seward.
The $25,000 flag pole arrived at Fort Seward Thursday, thanks to Wylie Truck Line of Fargo and Jamestown's Wiest Truck Line. The firms donated the $3,000 cost of hauling the pole from Beaumont, Texas, to Jamestown.
J.P. Wiest also donated the use of a forklift and two employees to unload the three sections of flag pole, which will be raised during a brief ceremony on Flag Day, June 14. The time for the ceremony has not been set.
Dale Marks, president of the Flags Across America committee, said the group has raised $30,000 in cash and in-kind donations required to secure a matching grant from Jamestown/Stutsman Development Corp. But more is needed to qualify for $100,000 in historic preservation matching funds requested from Congress by Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D.
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"We're making good progress," Marks said.
Treasurer Steve Reidburn said the committee is concentrating now on raising the remaining donations to win the congressional grant, but even with the grant, approximately $25,000 more will be needed to complete the entire project. Included in the plans are a veterans' memorial and amphitheater at the site.
Marks said Bernie Satrom of Maranatha Custom Churches Inc. donated many hours of service planning the memorial, which will consist of concrete blocks holding engraved plaques.
Reidburn said just the concrete for the memorial will cost $12,000, and the plaques and engraving will be more.
"That's going to be the expensive part," he said.
Reidburn estimates the total cost of the Fort Seward project -- flagpole, memorial and amphitheater -- at between $120,000 and $180,000.
"We figure it's about a five-year project," he said.
The committee plans to erect the veterans' memorial in 2006, but Reidburn said he would love to raise the money to complete it this summer.
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Once the entire project is finished, cash will still be needed to keep it going.
"We'd like to have $15,000 in our perpetual fund in order to buy flags and keep up the grounds," Marks said.
Anyone wishing to donate money can send checks, made out to Flags Across America/Fort Seward, to First Community Credit Union or Stutsman County State Bank.
Those with expertise in a particular area should contact Dale Marks at 489-3146. Reidburn said donations of cement or the work of a concrete finisher are particularly needed at this time.
The Flags Across America committee members are nothing if not optimistic. They are already planning a public ceremony to dedicate the new flag on July 4.
Sun staff reporter Jackie Hyra can be reached at (701) 952-8455 or by e-mail at js@jamestownsun.com
