Bellevue, Neb. – The Greater Bellevue Area Chamber of Commerce’s annual Avenue of Flags is officially underway from Memorial Day through Veterans Day.
The Avenue of Flags was started 23 years ago in 1999, by then-Bellevue Mayor Jerry Ryan to remember a loved one, honor a friend, show local patriotism, and show appreciation to all service men and women, past and present. Since then, the Greater Bellevue Area Chamber of Commerce has taken on the project each year to join with metro area businesses and individual citizens to financially support the program, to ensure that the tradition continues of lining the streets of Bellevue with U.S. flags from Memorial Day through Veterans Day.
“On behalf of the citizens and military members of Bellevue and the metro area, I want to say thank you for all the generous donations that are coming into Bellevue Chamber of Commerce from local citizens and businesses, to ensure that our streets will once again be lined with American Flags,” said Bellevue Chamber President, Michelle Andahl, “With such an incredible community of retired and active-duty military members in Bellevue and the surrounding areas, the flying of the flags is done to show our appreciation and support for all they do and have done for our Nation.” This year in November, the Bellevue Chamber will put out a publication in the local papers and with television media to coincide with the Chamber’s Annual Nebraska Veteran’s Day Parade, publishing the names of all honorees, as well as recognizing the sponsors that make this annual project possible.
The Chamber also wants to thank the City of Bellevue and their Streets Department for their ongoing support of putting the flags up for all to enjoy. This annual display is near and dear to all members of the Chamber and community, and we are grateful to have the ability to partner with the City of Bellevue to make this happen.
The flags will fly through Veterans Day, November 11th, and any citizen or organization that would like to sponsor flags to honor or remember a service member can contact the Greater Bellevue Area Chamber of Commerce at 402.898.3000 for more information and to make a donation. The cost to sponsor a single flag is $85, and corporate donations of $500 and $1,000 are available for multi-flag sponsorships. The chamber thanks the businesses and community members who continue to support this endeavor.
