Page 11 - The History of Veterans at Highland Springs

because the Coast Guard belongs to the Department of Homeland Security. Wells Field obtained the flags and the poles, and all this is mounted on a semi-circle brick wall designed and implemented by Chris Churchwell and BrightView landscape contractor. Highland Springs covered the cost for construction and materials. An eagle finial was recently placed at the top of the U.S. flagpole, replacing the spherical finial.
Before the Space Force flag was obtained, the POW/MIA flag was displayed on the wall with the five service flags. It consists of a silhouette of a prisoner of war before a guard tower and barbed wire in a white on black field. In the same time period that the Space Force flag was added, the Veterans Group learned that recent Presidential policy required that the POW/MIA flag is to be displayed beneath the U.S. Flag when flown on any federal building.
Pete Weyrauch, the Veterans Affairs Group chairman, made the decision to copy the federal policy and now the POW/MIA flag flies below the U.S. flag in the park.
Barbara Blachly initiated the display of small flags throughout the park and other sites and was custodian of the small flags. Now they are displayed on such holidays as Memorial Day, Independence Day and Veterans Day, and the Veterans Affairs Group helps to organize the volunteers who display the flags. As former Resident Services Coordinator II-Activities, Barbara was active with the Veteran community offering events that included speakers and organizing yearly photo shoots of Highland Springs Veterans.
Among some other Veteran activities was a 50th Anniversary Vietnam War Commemoration organized in 2016 by Daughters of American Revolution for Veterans of the Vietnam War. Each Veteran was awarded a pin with the words "A Grateful Nation Thanks and Honors You.” The pin, photos and message are displayed in the next chapter. Rosian Zerner, founder and presi- dent of The International Club, also organized events for Veterans. One was an overflow attendance dinner for Veterans that featured Col. Ralph Hockley, author of Freedom is Not Free, who spoke about his life that spanned three wars. Another was a dinner for Korean War Veterans that followed a presen- tation on Korea by the principals of The Dallas Korean Society. It was so popular that it had to be divided into two dinners. In addition, Rosian Zerner wrote articles for the resident newsletter Voices that featured interviews with Veterans and other Veteran related topics.
11