Sunday, November 22, 2015;

Mehlville fire department restores flag to pole in Memorial Park, Sunday, November 22, 2015.

The SCHS Memorial Park flag was restored to its pole this morning, Sunday, November 22, 2015, with a major assist from the Mehlville fire department station house No. 5 on Mueller Road. Ten days ago the flag was blown off its pole by the windstorms that hit the St Louis area. Someone found the flag and turned it in at the Gravois fire department in Afton.

The fire department called Boy Scout Troop 646 who maintain Memorial Park. Troop 646 called the fire department for an assist restoring the flag and firehouse No. 5 Mehlville came out with its platform truck, extension ladder and bucket. They put the ladder up in the sky, reaching from Denny Road in front of the former Johnny’s Market all the way to the flag pole in the center of the park and threaded a new halyard to the pole.

The flag was hoisted shortly after by Randy Ottinger of the SCHS Memorial Day committee, Joe Bender of Boy Scout Troop 646 and Stephen Hanpeter of the SCHS board. It is great to see the flag again in its place flying over Memorial Park and the SCHS WWII Honor Roll!

A heartfelt thank you to the men of Mehlville fire house 5 who came out on a Sunday morning and did the heavy lifting to get the SCHS flag restored to its pole at Memorial Park. Another thank you to the un-named citizen who found the flag and turned it in.

In photos below, Mehlville fire department makes the long reach.

Mehlville fire house 5 arrived with platform truck.

They put extension ladder into the sky.

Two men are sent up in bucket.

The long reach over Memorial Park.

They approach the pole carefully.

At almost full extension to reach the pole.

Feeding a new halyard to the pole.

Halyard strung, ladder retracts.

The restoration is completed and flag raised. 

The job is done in fine order.

Joe Bender and Randy Ottinger tie down the halyard and secure the pole.

Randy Ottinger and Stephen Hanpeter are glad to have the flag restored

Flag restored at SCHS Memorial Park on a beautiful, calm, cold Sunday morning.

Flag restored at SCHS Memorial Park on a beautiful, calm, cold Sunday morning.

See more about Sappington-Concord Memorial Park and the annual SCHS Memorial Day ceremony. Better still, please attend the ceremony yourself next year on Memorial Day morning at 10:00 am! It will be on the green at St Lucas UCC.