Old Glory for Old Betsy
In 1995, longtime Keene resident and business owner Brady Rusk began placing U. S. flags fastened to 10-foot poles along Old Betsy Road on holidays and special occasions. Using his own funds, he purchased, installed and stored about 10 flags.
Around the year 2000, Rusk handed the program to Yddo Ortiz, another longtime resident and local business owner, who originated the idea of having area residents purchase a flag in memory or in honor of a relative, loved one, or friend. The number of flags grew rapidly as community members responded to the idea of sponsoring a flag through the honor or memorialize program.
Now, 30 years after Rusk installed the first flags, the program, known as“ Old Glory for Old Betsy,” has grown to 351 flags and is operated and managed by the Keene Chamber of Commerce, who assumed responsibility for the program in 2020.
More than 220 people, mostly Keene residents, have purchased a flag or multiple flags in honor or memory of a loved one or friend.
The flags are placed inside a buried sleeve positioned along Old Betsy Road. An additional 12 flags are positioned in front of City Hall and another 23 are
The published display dates are:
• Martin Luther King Jr Day, third Monday in January
• SWAU Hoops Classic, third week in January
• President’ s Day, third Monday in February
• SWAU Alumni Weekend
• SWAU Graduation
• Project Hero, second Saturday in May
• Armed Forces Day, third
• Saturday in May
• Memorial Day, last Monday in May
• D-Day, June 6
• Flag Day, June 14
• Juneteenth, June 19
• Independence Day, July 4
• Labor Day, first Monday in September
• Patriot Day, Sept. 11
• Election Day
• Veterans Day, Nov. 11
• Pearl Harbor Day, Dec. 7 Special occasions and selected events by request.
in front of Elisa Carver Park.
The flag installation process is a large undertaking, with Keene Police officers controlling traffic while businesses and schools rotate the responsibility of assisting with displaying and removing the flags. However, the bulk of the installation and removal process is handled by the“ Flag Crew,” a group of 18 volunteers who form the backbone of the body that sets up and removes the flags.
One volunteer also removes damaged flags and installs replacement flags, while two other volunteers restitch damaged flags that are repairable.
The Keene Chamber contributes $ 2,000 per year to the program plus the net proceeds from the Chamber’ s July luncheon, plus the net proceeds from the Fourth of July Parade and Christmas Light Parade support the flag fund.
Also each year, the Type A and Type B boards consider an annual contribution to the flag fund.
The Keene Chamber of Commerce is responsible for raising money to maintain the flags, storing and protecting them, maintaining the sleeves, insuring and licensing the flag trailers, and organizing the installation ceremonies.
To purchase a flag in honor or memory of someone( a flag costs $ 75, which includes flag, pole, and installation sleeve) or donate to the Old Glory for Old Betsy program, contact the Keene Chamber of Commerce office at 817-556-2995.
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Professional Janitorial Service Since 1975 Yddo Ortiz, Owner
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