The majority of American flags that have been flown along Seventh Street during a project spanning 42 years have been damaged by exposure to the weather over a four-month period following the Sept. 11 attacks. Traditionally, the flags are flown on Seventh Street only on national holidays. However, the village and Chamber of Commerce, sponsoring organization, agreed that it would be appropriate to fly the flags for an extended period of time following the World Trade Center tragedy.

The Chamber, who initiated the project back in 1960, has been running a campaign to establish funds to replace the damaged flags and refurbish their wooden poles. To date, 31 contributors have made flag replacement possible, bringing the total to 40 flags, which span Seventh Street between Franklin and Hilton Avenues. These donors have also contributed to a fund to meet future needs as they arise.

Today the flag project is a team effort between the Chamber of Commerce, the William Bradford Turner Post No. 265, the American Legion and Garden City Boy Scout Troops 55, 56, 80 and 243 and their scoutmasters. The Chamber extends sincere thanks to members of both the residential and business communities who have helped to keep Old Glory flying high on Seventh Street on national holidays for years to come.

Specifically, the Chamber would like to thank Adelphi University, Bank of New York, Barbatsuly Brothers, Inc., Bonaventure Bridal & Tuxedo, Clancy & Clancy Brokerage, LTD, Maureen & Cummin Clancy, Patricia and James Costello, Sarah and Raymond Coyne, Daughters of the American Revolution, Dooley Deremer Orr Agency, Dougal Fraser Real Estate, Ethan Allen, Food Basket, Garden City Bistro, Garden City Nursery School, Garden City Police Benevolent Association, Garden City Volunteer Fire Department (major sponsor), Garden City Pizza, Marie and Randy Hill, Mineola Flag, Mr. and Mrs. Nathan Mistretta, Ross Mongiardo, Marlene Knoth Moore and Greg Moore, Mopak Service Center, Mortgages for Improvement LLC, Ollie's Taxi, Riesterer's Bakery, Roslyn Savings Bank, TCBY, the Wingate Inn (major sponsor) and Kelly and Timothy Worstell. The Chamber plans to release a complete listing of donors in the near future.

Ruth Krist, honorary Chamber member and former owner of Hoffmann's Deli, one of the program's initiators in 1960, recalls opening the deli at 6 a.m. With hot chocolate and cookies, she'd "fuel up" the Boy Scouts who'd place the flags at sunrise and lower and store them at the day's end. Further, prior to each holiday, Scouts must free each of 40 sidewalk pole sockets of debris.

Harvey Brillat, Chamber special events chairman and a scoutmaster in the late '70s and early '80s, took on the role of coordinator and "keeper of the flags." They were stored in the basement of his Franklin Avenue shop, Garden City Printers and Mailers. They have also been kept in the basements of Taylor Warner Realty and the Garden City Delicatessen. They now live in the basement of Bagelman on Franklin Avenue.

Much has evolved over 42 years. At one time the flags were displayed along Franklin Avenue but with increased traffic, execution of the flags became unsafe. When Brillat was leaving Garden City he and Althea Robinson, Chamber executive director, met with Legionnaires of the William Bradford Turner Post No. 265 who agreed to supervise the Scouts' efforts. Troops 55, 56, 80 and 243 take turns in effecting the holiday displays. Along the way, many have earned their Eagle Scout badges through the refurbishment of flags and their wooden poles.

In this current campaign, Philip Jermain's eighth grade technology class at the middle school sanded and varnished 40 flagpoles. Jermain serves as one of Garden City's volunteer fire fighters, a major donor. Immediate past chief of the Garden City Volunteer Fire Department, Larry Nedelka, served as one of the participating Boy Scouts during his childhood and was the chief proponent in the department's outstanding level of support.

Robinson chairs the Chamber American Flag Committee with Ken Mataix of Bagelman. Directors Joseph Battaglia of UBS Paine Webber and George Nigohosian of Bonaventure Bridal & Tuxedo assist them. The Chamber commends troop Scoutmasters, Ken Mataix for hands-on assistance and the American Legion for coordination. Legionnaire Chris Winters has been chief coordinator for years. As he puts it, "The massed display of American flags on Seventh Street is a marvelous sight that gladdens the heart and spirit. It is a reminder of the blood, sweat and tears our country's men and women have shed so that these flags might fly freely."

The Chamber sees it as a marvelous example of the village's patriotism. If any organization can assist with a donation to the American Flag Fund, please send a check made payable to the Garden City Chamber of Commerce, 230 Seventh Street, Garden City NY 11530. All contributors will receive appropriate recognition in the Garden City Life at the campaign's conclusion Aug. 31.