Lions Club president Andy McQuillen stands next to a test run installation of one of the flags that will be installed in over 75 locations throughout Reinbeck over the coming flag holiday seasons. Photo provided

Reinbeck residents will soon a new tradition beginning in the community. This spring the Reinbeck Lions Club have organized a community flag project they are calling “Flags Over Reinbeck”.

The project offers community members an opportunity to purchase a service where American flags are installed in uniform fashion near the curb of residential properties around the five flag holidays from May through November.

The holidays include Memorial Day, Flag Day, July 4th, Labor Day and Veteran’s Day.

Lions Club members plan to install the flags in participating residential lots one or two days ahead of each holiday and will then remove the flags a day or two after the holiday is past.

Project chair and Lions Club member Dale Wambold picked up the idea from clubs in Winterset and Grimes that have done similar projects in recent years.

“I got a feel for what these other communities were doing and I thought it was pretty impressive to see when you drive through,” Wambold said. “I think it’s mainly an opportunity to show off our community. A lot of cemeteries will post flags throughout their grounds, and that’s an impressive thing to see. Now, if you had them flying through your whole community, on the streets, you know, that’s just a nice show of patriotism.”

When residents sign up for the flag project, Lions Club volunteers will coordinate the process to install a PVC channel four feet from the curb and flush with the ground to make mowing around and above the channel convenient.

The Lions Club have approved the project through the city and plan to contact Iowa OneCall for assistance in locating underground lines prior to the channel being installed.

The 3×5 flags were purchased through the American Legion and are of good quality with sewn stars, rather than pressed nylon.

So far, 75 people have signed up to participate in the project. Wambold hopes that others might be encouraged to join in after seeing the flags up around the community. The initial deadline for flag installation on Memorial Day was May 1, although Wambold said those interested in participating in the remaining four holidays after Memorial Day are still able to sign up.

Proceeds of the project will go to the club to help fund future projects like bingo at the park during the 4th of July celebration and a pancake feed slated for later this year. The Lions Club also works to make scholarships available to local high school students.

The club has seen a resurgence in the last year and boasts a membership of 30 individuals. Regular meetings are held at the Dig Inn craft beer bar on Broad Street and have done well in attracting new members.

Those interested in learning more about the Flags Over Reinbeck project or about the Reinbeck Lions Club are encouraged to contact Dale Wambold at 319-404-0551 or by email at reinbecklionsiowa@gmail.com.