Clarke County Piece Makers repair flags

Every year between Memorial Day and Independence Day the American flags that the Davis Pence-Post 69 American Legion members put up at the Maple Hill Cemetery are checked and repaired. After bad winds and rain, flags were taken down late and over 200 needed repairs this year.

The Clarke County Piece Makers, the local quilting guild, came together to do the repairs this year so the flags would be ready to fly by Fourth of July. There were about seven quilters that worked on the flags this past week at the legion hall.

Most of the flags were bought new in 2006. Usually 10-15 flags are bought new each year. For the flags to be properly repaired they must be the same size after they’ve been worked on as before. Many of the repairs have been made by using materiel from a flag that is about the be retired.

The Legion is looking into buying new flags soon to replace the nearly 200 that have been damaged and repaired multiple times. They will be raising funds in order to do so. If any individual would like to help out flags cost the Legion about $34 each. A check can be mailed to the American Legion at PO Box 141 Osceola, IA 50213.

The Clarke County Piece Makers meet on the second Monday of each month at the Davis Pence-Post 60 Legion Hall. The Legionnaires have given the guild two month rent free for their work on the flags. The Clarke County Piece Makers are always looking for news members, anyone who enjoys quilting is welcome.