UPDATE: North Avenue 'Gold Flag Project' Off to a Good Start, Organizers Say

A new and very personal aspect to a patriotic civic project has gotten off to a strong start, according to the citizen who conceived it.

Longtime Tosa citizen Richard Bachman, now retired to Menomonee Falls, has not cut his ties to the city he served so long, including a 24-year stint on the Common Council.

One of Bachman's proudest legacies has been his North Avenue Flag Project, which he conceived in the wake of 9/11. For a decade, flags have flown from the light poles along the street, funded wholly through donations.

This year, Bachman decided to enhance the program by offering citizens the opportunity to purchase commemorative flags to fly for a summer and then to own when they have been taken down.

Wauwatosa Patch gave details of the program , the Eagle Scout candidate he recruited to manage the project.

Bachman now reports that 20 commemorative flags have already been purchased – but there is room for more than 100 more.

Bachman and Barrett asked Patch to publish the following letter as a further reminder of the special flag program.

There is a great start to the Gold Flag Project, but time is running out to get yours!

This is an Eagle Scout project by 15-year-old Matt Barrett of Scout Troop 111. For months, he has been working with me to fly dedicated flags instead of standard ones. For years, you have seen these flags along North Avenue.

After the 9/11 tragedy, my now-deceased wife and I started the "North Avenue Flag Project."

Here is where Matt Barrett comes in. To become an Eagle Scout you must do a large community project to receive the badge. Eagle Scout is the highest rank attainable in Boy Scouting. Only two out of every 100 boys who enter scouting obtain this recognition.

Now you, the citizens, may have the name of a veteran or loved on written on the white border of a special flag and see it flown from May 15 through Sept. 15 on one of 126 North Avenue light poles. These flags will fly on gold poles instead of the silver ones you see now.

The cost is only $100, of which $10 is donated to the Veterans Association, while the remaining proceeds go into the general flag fund to keep this program going forward.

At the end of the season, you will being presented your flag as a wonderful keepsake when it has been taken down and folded.

This is what you need to do: Include in a letter the name of the person you would like to honor and how you would like them listed, for example, "In honor of...," "In dedication to..., "In memory of..." or whatever you prefer.

Please mark the envelope "FLAG DONATION." Also, include your phone number so we can call when the flag is taken down and ready to be deliverd by Scout Matt Barrett.

Please send your check to: City of Wauwatosa: Flag Donation, 7725 W. North Ave. Wauwatosa, WI 53213.

Sincerely,

Richard Bachman & Matt Barrett

Questions? Please call either 2621-735-4036 (Richard) or 414-553-0950 (Matt)