The sight of a welcome-home event for Desert Storm soldiers in 1991 is what inspired a group of citizens to form the Redmond Flag Committee. A long stretch of Redmond streets lined with American flags was a precursor of Redmond becoming a “Flag City.”

Within eight years, the group had “sold” more than 700 flags: each four-by-six flag is sponsored by an individual or organization and embroidered with a name, usually that of a veteran. Today the committee, with assistance from a variety of civic groups, puts up more than 1,400 flags on seven major display days (and occasions such as when a fallen soldier is brought home).

Hauling that many wooden poles out of a trailer, unfurling 24 square feet of red, white and blue polyester, and finding an open hole in the sidewalk at 6 a.m. is not an easy task, nor is showing up 12 hours later to do the same thing in reverse.

The group is always looking for new members. It can take as little as an hour to blanket the city in flags if a nice-size group shows up, but it can take much longer if there are just a few volunteers.

A gateway display along U.S. Highway 97 at the intersection of Highland Avenue was completed in 2016, dedicated to Redmond’s designation as a “Flag City, USA.”

In addition to flag display days, the committee holds occasional workdays for flag maintenance and clearing out display holes.

To find out more, visit the Redmond Flag Committee website at www.flagcityusa.us.