Whether in the Rotarians’ march in the Sequim Irrigation Festival Grand Parade or prominently placed along city streets and neighborhoods, Sequim Sunrise Rotary’s flags have likely caught your eye at some point.
Rotarians say the effort is meant to share a pride in America while supporting community service projects in Sequim through subscription funds.
“It fills your heart carrying the flag in the parade,” said Ann Flack, past president of the Sequim Sunrise Rotary.
“And seeing them all on the streets gives you so much pride. People are so appreciative, too.”
Mike McAleer, a co-organizer with Charlie Johnson, said Rotarians have been deploying U.S. flags for about 14 years across the Sequim area.
The idea started with the late Jim Pickett, McAleer said, and fellow Rotarian Tom Schaafsma got a lot of the logistics figured out with the flag displays.
“We went out on a major campaign door-belling to start and with our first crew we probably put out about 125 flags,” McAleer said.
He estimates there are about 650 U.S. flags now that go on display in Sequim on five holidays — Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day and Veterans Day.
Typically, the flag program is $40 for the holidays each year. With Presidents’ Day over this year, the amount is $32 by May 17 to make it for the remaining four holidays.
Homes/businesses that want more than one flag, it’s an additional $25.
Rotarians will place and take the flag for each home/business.
McAleer said they didn’t see a dip during the Covid-19 pandemic, and with more than 75 club members, he feels they have capacity to do more displays.
They’re hoping whole neighborhoods would get on board with the effort.
“We’ve got enough members to do another route or two,” he said. “I’m happy to get calls.”
McAleer can be reached at 360-477-0837, or visit sequimsunriserotary.org, or email to sequimsunsriserotaryclub@gmail.com.
Program support
The Flag Display Project is the rotary’s main fundraiser to support their community and international projects and scholarships.
All funds raised go to projects, Flack said.
Some of the agencies/projects flag sponsorships support include: Sequim High School graduating senior scholarships; the Interact Club’s Walk for Water effort to build wells in Africa; the Sequim Food Bank; Back to School Fair; Sequim Dungeness Wellness Clinic; Sequim Boys & Girls Club; Habitat for Humanity of Clallam County, and a contribution to ShelterBox, which aided displaced families in Ukraine and Gaza.
Flack said the Rotary is giving $14,000 to seven graduating seniors this year.
McAleer, a retired colonel with the U.S. Army after 31 years, said the project has extra meaning for him, too.
“It’s just a lot of fun and camaraderie,” he said.
McAleer added that walking in the parade “just does my heart good.”
Sequim Sunrise Rotary’s Flag Display Program
U.S. flag on display at homes, businesses
When: Five holidays — Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day and Veterans Day
Cost: $40 for all five; pro-rated amount for less holidays.
Funds: Various Rotary projects
To subscribe/more info: Mike McAleer 360-477-0837, call 360-683-3564, email to sequimsunsriserotaryclub@gmail.com, or visit sequimsunriserotary.org
Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Sunrise Rotary Club and Interact Club members march in the Grand Parade on May 11. Rotarians have sought sponsorships for flags to be placed in front of homes and businesses on five holidays with funds supporting community projects.
