The American flag now flies in front of the Retired Tigers Apartments, 320 W. Main St., Warsaw, thanks to Phillips Tree Service, Pierceton.
For the last two years, Property Manager Karise Cooper-Wilson and several residents have been trying to get the rope installed on the flag pole so they could fly the flag.
“We have several veterans here as well as widows of veterans. Most have family who are veterans,” said Cooper-Wilson. “It’s been a struggle for us to get the rope on the flagpole. A lot of places didn’t want to do it because of liability issues.”
Cooper-Wilson said she bought the rope for the pole last year, and two people donated the flag. Maintenance Technician Terry Newcomer, a veteran himself, got the pulleys.
“A lot of (our residents) are patriots, and so it’s a very big deal here. A very big deal,” she said.
On Wednesday, Christina Evansky, the REAL Services site director for Retired Tigers, reached out to the Times-Union for help. The Times-Union then contacted Phillips Tree Service, who sent an employee out Wednesday to see if they could help.
Deciding it was something they could help with, at about 12:15 p.m. Thursday Phillips Tree Service employees Brian Nulf, Josh Cripe, Logan Gaumer and Brandi Ridenour arrived at Retired Tigers with a 75-foot bucket truck to string up the flag pole.
While Cripe rode the bucket up to the top of the pole to install the rope, residents watched from down below, smiling and cheering him on. Veterans like Newcomer (Army, 1974-78), Roger Chain (Army, 1948), Chuck Richards (Air Force, 1964-68) and Jack Smythe (Navy, 1956-62) were excited to see Old Glory go up.
Once the flag was hanging on the pole, the residents put their hands on their hearts and recited the Pledge of Allegiance. Residents shook hands and gave hugs to Cripe and Gaumer, thanking them for their help.
“We’re proud to be able to give back whenever possible, especially to our local veterans. After all the sacrifices they’ve made for us, it’s the least we could do,” a statement from Phillips Tree Service said.
Phillips Tree Service is based out of Pierceton and does work for all the surrounding areas, Ridenour said. The business offers tree trimming, tree removal, pruning, storm clean-up, stump grinding and chipping. The telephone number is 574-594-2443; fax, 574-594-2018; email PhillipsTreeService@centurylink.net; and the website is PhillipsTreeService.org.
