When the people of Riverton, Iowa, gather to raise American flags this weekend, one important part of the decades-long tradition will be missing.
For years, Roger Booker put his time, energy and muscle into the Avenue of Flags, a flag-flanked street that twists around the cemetery on a hill in the tiny Iowa town.
This year, his wife, daughter, grandson and other community members have to do it without him. Roger died May 10 after a brief battle with cancer.
His sudden illness and death rocked his wife of 55 years, Betty Booker, who had been by his side every Memorial Day weekend to raise 100 flags to honor men and women who have served in the military.
“It's always been kind of special to us to see the flags fly,” said Betty Booker. “It's just a beautiful thing.”
This year, she will rely more than ever on town volunteers to keep the tradition going.
Roger, Betty and their daughter Sandy Booker of Greenfield used to be the ones who would locate all the flagpole holes in the ground, use an auger to clean them out and mark them in advance of Memorial Day.
In the wake of Roger Booker's death, friend and Riverton resident Gale Fengel took over that task.
On both Sunday and Monday mornings, Fengel and others will come together with the Booker family to erect the flags.
Flags in honor of Betty Booker's brother, son and grandson will fly, along with a flag for Roger, who served as a member of the National Guard.
The tradition is time- and energy-consuming. Years ago, Roger replaced old wooden flagpoles with metal ones. Betty has raised money over the years to replace flags that become tattered and worn. Memorial gifts in Roger's name were dedicated to a fund for new flags.
The group meets early on the Sunday and Monday mornings of every Memorial Day weekend. A trailer drives slowly around the gravel road, allowing volunteers to pick the flags, unfurl them and place them in their holders. It takes time, but for the people of Riverton, it's worth it.
“It's quite an honor for the people that died,” said Don Eggers, who has been involved with the Avenue of Flags since its inception in Riverton.
On Sunday night, all the flags come down. The volunteers would rather go through the trouble of raising them twice than have weather or vandals damage their tribute.
Before his death, Roger and Betty had often discussed giving up their role in the tradition and passing it on to younger volunteers. But not this year, said Betty. This weekend, she needs to be a part of it, for all of the veterans — and for Roger.
“It's going to be hard, but I'm going to do it,” Betty said, her voice wavering with emotion. “This is something he would want.”
Contact the writer: 444-1310, elizabeth.ahlin@owh.com
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