'Fly the Flag' Program Comes to North Canton

The North Canton Rotary Club would like to see hundreds of American flags flying throughout the city during five national holidays this year as part of their new "Fly the Flag" program.

Participation in the program costs $25 and involves a civic organization (Boy or Girl Scouts or Booster Club members, for instance) placing flags in the yards of those residents and business owners who've signed up.

The flag would fly from the Saturday before the holiday until the Saturday after the holiday. Holidays include Memorial Day, Flag Day, July 4, Labor Day through Sept. 11, and Veterans Day. 

Other than paying to be in the program, it's pretty hands-off for residents and business owners, said Megan Bishop, North Canton Rotary Club member. The Rotarians will place an 18-inch plastic pipe in the yard and the civic organizations will come and drop in the 3-by-5 flags (with 10-foot poles) and pick them up after the holiday.

"We're really excited," Bishop said. "I think it would look great if you drove through on any of those holidays and saw all those flags."

Money raised through the Fly the Flag project will go toward community projects.

She said the North Canton Rotary Club looked to other rotaries, like the Jackson Township Rotary Club, to model their Fly the Flag program.

Anyone who signs up for 2013 will get Labor Day through Sept. 11 and Veterans Day of 2012 for free. Check out the order form in the media section of this story to sign up for the program.

The Rotary Club will send out reminder cards for participants to enroll again for the next year, too.

"Our hope is that once people start to see it, they get excited and want to be a part of it," Bishop said.