George to get new flagpole

GEORGE — If you look carefully, you’ll notice there’s no flagpole in front of the George City Hall.

“The flagpole came down in a violent windstorm a couple of years ago,” said Larry Julius, an engineer with Gray & Osborne Inc., who acts as city engineer for George.

But that will change, thanks to a $4,000 gift from the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs’ Emblem Fund, which allows veterans to display up to two military campaign ribbons or significant awards, such as a Bronze Star or a Distinguished Flying Cross, on their license plates.

The Department of Licensing charges $15 for the emblems.

“About every four or five years, whenever enough money is collected (in the fund), they put out an advertisement for projects,” said James Sims, a member of the Governor’s Veterans Advisory Commission and head of Selective Service in Washington state.

In addition to a new flag, the award will also allow George to put up a small plaque honoring veterans from across the Quincy Valley.

“This is a significant gift,” Sims added. “It’s important to make sure rural communities have access to this. Big city veterans organizations have resources small towns do not.”

Sims, a retired Marine Corps veteran himself, was in George on Tuesday to present the gift to George Mayor Don Entzel.

“We feel honored to have such a distinguished person representing veterans and such a generous gift,” Entzel said.

The city has already picked out a new flagpole, which will stand 30 feet high on the corner of South Washington Way and East Richmond Avenue, northwest of City Hall — where the old flag used to stand.

“Now that we have a clear picture of the funding, we make an order,” Julius said. “We should have it by the end of February, and by the end of March, we should have a flagpole.”

Charles H. Featherstone can be reached at [email protected].