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'Avenue of the Flags' salutes vets Mail Tribune / Bob Pennell Arnelle Charters, of Phoenix, wraps herself in an American flag she's been flying outside her home since her husband, a veteran, died in 1974. She is raising money for flagpoles to line the center of town in Eagle Point to the National Cemetery to show appreciation for veterans. By MEG LANDERS Arnelle Charters is a devoted patriot. "I'm on the fight for flags and flagpoles," says the 80-year-old widow. "They call me 'Yankee Doodle Dandy.'" The Phoenix resident has been flying an American flag outside her home since her husband, Raymond L. Charters, a World War II veteran, died in 1974. Her love of flags does not end there, however. Since August, Charters has raised nearly $900 for the purchase of flagpoles to line the center of town in Eagle Point. The vision, called Avenue of the Flags and begun by Sharon Bauer in 1996, is to have approximately three miles of flag-lined streets through the center of town from Highway 62 to the Eagle Point National Cemetery. The flags are flown for the day on each of the seven national holidays, including Independence Day. Bauer says that with 150 flags spaced 20 feet apart, half the distance is currently covered on one side of the road. Through the Eagle Point Chamber of Commerce, Bauer and other volunteers have been asking families to donate casket flags from veterans' funeral ceremonies. "The flags that we are flying come from people from all over Jackson County," says Bauer. The funds raised go toward the 14-foot flagpoles, which cost about $30 apiece. That's where Charters comes in. "She has personally taken it upon herself to raise money," says Bauer. Charters, who has been writing donation request letters and hopes to raise $2,000 by next year, says it's important to show appreciation for veterans at this time. "American World War II veterans are dying at 1,100 a day," says Charters, adding, "We're living in a free country thanks to (veterans)." Charters says she derives a lot of satisfaction from paying tribute to those who fought in American wars. "I feel like I'm honoring my husband and all the other people by completing the Avenue of Flags," she says. Donations may be sent to: Flag Donation, Eagle Point Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 1539, Eagle Point, OR 97524. Meg Landers is a free-lance writer living in Medford. E-mail her at [email protected] . Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.