Day in the Life

Gorham Lion's Club Raising of the Flags

"Our flag does not fly because the wind blows it; it flies with the last breath of every soldier who died defending it" is attributed to an anonymous author. Some say the quote is appropriate for Memorial Day weekend because it honors the soldiers who died in the nation's wars, whose names are often unknown. 

It was an overcast morning. At 6:30am, the sun hadn’t yet risen to its highest point but the temperature was warm enough to be outside for an early May morning. The streets of downtown Gorham were fairly quiet at this time of the day. Most of the cars we were seeing on the road were vintage beauties passing through town heading to the Bonny Eagle Car Show being held later that morning in a neighboring town. It was the perfect time of day for the Gorham Lions Club to be installing American Flags in and around Gorham Villages in time for the Memorial Day weekend. 

The Lion’s Club has been placing flags in the villages since the early 2000’s when the wife of then president, Norm Wedge, asked why she saw rows of American flags in other towns but not in Gorham. That simple question led to the Gorham Lions Club providing and maintaining 100 Stars and Stripes to the Town of Gorham as they fly with pride from mid May through the Fall. 

I am proud to be a part of this service organization that gives so much to our community. Our motto is “We Serve.” Proudly wearing our iconic yellow vests, Operation Flag was underway. A few members were on the ground with ladders for hard to reach telephone poles and flag brackets while the rest of us were riding the lift generously provided and expertly driven by Carl Phillips of Phillips & Sons Body Shop. I was happy to be perched on the scissor lift a good four feet above the flatbed which was already several feet up from the road. I loved my lofty perch and the view I obtained of downtown Gorham (and folk’s backyards) from such a high vantage point that one would not normally see driving by. 

One member was positioned on the flatbed with the flags. He would pass a flag up to another member standing on the lift with me, that would get the flag in the pole bracket. My function was to push the “beeper” button when the flag was securely placed in the bracket which notified Carl, our driver, to move on to the next pole. He would navigate the truck onto the sidewalks, up over the curb, to get alongside the poles for quick installation of the flags. 

The flags are now all in place. Driving down Main Street, it is a glorious sight to behold all the unfurled flags. Feeling very patriotic. I will be back on the lift come October when the flags are taken down for the winter. Ready to do my part. 

The Gorham Lions Club was founded in 1954. For 70 years the club has been privileged to serve the needs of the residents of Gorham, including providing eye glasses to residents in need, saving landmarks, assisting the food pantry and the handicapped, and giving scholarships. We are also the caretakers of 100 American Flags. Proud to be a part of the organization. Proud to be a Lion. 

For more information about membership or to report a new community need, please contact Lion’s Membership Chair, Ken Aldrich at 207-929-9182.