Rathdrum business and American Legion donate flags

RATHDRUM — Mayor Vic Holmes believes locals could use a few reminders about the good people and the great pride of North Idaho.

The city of Rathdrum installed 10 new flagpoles and American flags across the Highway 41 and Highway 53 overpass.

Holmes had the idea when he was out for a walk and noticed that where they usually hang decorations this time of the year, it was bare. For the last 13 years, the city has made an effort to hang flags, support the military, and work with veteran service organizations.

With the coronavirus hurting the economy and Rathdrum being a small city, Holmes said they don’t often have the resources to perform noncrucial services.

“Rathdrum, we have a nut-and-bolt economy, we don’t have a lot of money for bling, so we have to do necessity first,” Holmes said. “Without donations and volunteer groups in the community, we’d be lost. We depend on each other.”

Fortunately for Rathdrum, the community is there to help.

After meeting with administration and parks and recreation, local business Idaho Fence and the local chapter of American Legion offered to donate and install flags and poles.

“I find what’s going on in our nation disturbing, and I think we need a lot more patriotism and more people supporting our country,” said John Hayden of Idaho Fence. “I’m just proud of Rathdrum for doing that, in a time when it’s not real popular to fly the American flag they doubled down on it.”

As the Chamber of Commerce gears up for Rathdrum Days with the help of the community, Holmes said he couldn’t be prouder of the city.

“It’s an amazing thing to me that we can come up with a good idea like this and somebody will always volunteer to help with it,” Holmes said. “Part of our pledge is to hold on to that small-town feeling even though we are growing. It’s the people that actually create our community.”