MVISD Ag Department: A Warrior Spirit Project Good Neighbor

If you have ever driven by the Mount Vernon City Cemetery and seen a beautiful Field of American Flags flying high in the breeze, you may have wondered why and how they are there. Or maybe you volunteered to help raise that field for Memorial Day, understanding that each flag represents a local veteran. If so, you know the effort it takes to respectfully attach a flag to each pole, without letting it touch the ground, and to carefully place the pole in a very small hole in the ground before raising it so the flag flies freely… again, without ever letting it touch the ground. And you might also know that those poles are HEAVY!

These newer, heavier, more storm-resistant poles are replacements that were purchased earlier this year by Warrior Spirit Project (WSP) as part of their Honor Program, and plain steel poles don't typically come pre-drilled for the purpose of attaching 5x8 flags. But when WSP reached out to the Mount Vernon High School Ag Department to ask if they might be able to help, they stepped right up. Students drilled two holes in each of the poles, at exactly the dimensions and placement requested. One student even offered his autograph on one of the poles. Surprise! Students were rewarded with a new opportunity to practice a skill, a ton of gratitude from WSP founders Charla and David Truesdale, and pizza! The whole department also received sincere recognition as a Warrior Spirit Project Good Neighbor. Only three of these certificates have been issued in Mount Vernon since 2022, and each one represents a level of volunteer support that exemplifies what community is all about.

For the week of September 6-13, the Field of Flags will fly once again in remembrance. Do you know where you were and what you were doing on September 11, 2001? Chances are good that you remember clearly if you are older than 30. But many in our community, including students who worked on these flagpoles, were not even born when world-changing events happened in New York City, at the Pentagon, and in that Pennsylvania field. Others were too young to connect personally with how it felt at the time, but for many of us, it still feels very close and personal. Just like those who lived through the shock of Pearl Harbor and the ensuing war that changed their lives forever, the 9/11 generation knows how life was before, and how life has changed since those attacks on the "land of the free and the home of the brave." We may know families of the 2983 who lost their lives during the attacks, first responders who ran toward the chaos to help save lives, or veterans who felt called to join the military because of 9/11. We may know warriors living with life-altering physical and moral injuries. And sadly, our current world is full of Gold Star Families whose loved ones died while serving to protect our precious freedom. How can we ensure that the impacts of 9/11 are recognized and never forgotten? How can we honor the individuals and families who have sacrificed so much? Do we truly understand what our American flag really represents?

"We personally know individuals in almost all these categories," says Charla Truesdale of Warrior Spirit Project. "Our organization exists because of these special people, and we continuously look for ways to honor and serve them in meaningful ways. We are dedicated to this cause."

So, as you drive by the City Cemetery when the flags are flying, take a moment to reflect on a few things. First, remember the lives of those affected by the 9/11 terrorist attacks 25 years ago. Then consider how this major historical event has affected us even to this day. Finally, allow yourself to feel extremely grateful to live in this amazing community, where young and old still offer their time and talents to volunteer for something greater than their own desires and support a cause that represents a future that values freedom and responsibility. And if you have a little time on your hands, consider joining us on Sunday, September 20th at 2:00pm, as we lower these flags together with the same respect they were raised.