By JAMES BELL
Hays Post
It’s hard to miss all of the American flags in Hays around the Fourth of July and other patriotic holidays.
Since 2000, many of those flags have been placed by the local Kiwanis Club.
Recently, the member who began the program was presented with the Larry G. Weaver award, given out yearly by the Pittsburg Kiwanis Club to a member within the state to acknowledge their service to the community.
Jerry Ubert was recognized with the award at a recent Kiwanis meeting.
“Jerry was nominated for all of the things he has done over his lifetime of Kiwanis,” said Michele Springer, Hays Kiwanis president.
One of the most visible club activities is the flag project, which Ubert not only started in Hays but also other Kansas cities.
“There are several clubs that are now doing the flag project due to either him directly helping them get started or by carrying the idea,” Springer said. “He had one idea, which was a great idea, but one idea turned into a lot of people having ideas, which has inspired many events that help what Kiwanis does.”
Goodland, Smith Center, Pratt, Colby and Great Bend Kiwanis clubs, along with several groups outside of Kiwanis, have all implemented a similar flag program to Hays.
While the program is now well known in the area, it started very small.
“Back in 1999, our club was looking for an additional fundraiser to raise more money to be put back into the community,” Ubert said.
While many ideas were presented, he said nothing ever seemed to stick.
After presenting the flag program, Ubert said the board approved the idea.
The next year the program began with 71 flags placed for the Memorial Day weekend.
The program has grown ever since.
“This Memorial weekend, we put out 1,290,” Ubert said.
Flags are placed yearly on Memorial Day, Flag Day, the Fourth of July, Labor Day and Veterans Day.
“If you have an idea,” Springer said. “Don’t be afraid to share it, because all ideas start out small.”
The program goes to support the community through organizations like First Call for Help, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ellis County, Boy and Girl Scouts, scholarship programs and others Ubert said.
“It’s a great fundraiser and helps us make an impact in the community,” Ubert said.
Not only does the program help raise funds, he said it helps foster patriotism in the community.
“Especially if you go down Hall Street,” Ubert said. “It’s a fun community project.”
Over 50 members help place the flags during the holidays.
While he said receiving the award was a “total surprise,” he is appreciative of the recognition for his many years in the club.
“I’ve been with it a long time,” Ubert said.
In fact, he remembers the date he started — Sept. 27, 1984.
As the co-chair of the flag program, Ubert said members of the community often show appreciation.
“They say the club does a great job, keep it up, we like seeing the flags,” he said. “That’s what makes it worthwhile to me.”