THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, June 27, 1996 TAG: 9606260126
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY SCOTT McCASKEY, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 65 lines
Ocean View and surrounding neighborhoods will be displaying the nation's patriotic colors in a big way for the Fourth of July.
Residents, civic leagues and businesses plan to fly 10,000 U.S. flags and hang some 1,500 red, white and blue bows.
State Del. Thelma Drake, who represents the 87th District that includes Ocean View and nearby communities, is spearheading the flag-flying. Last year, Drake distributed 7,000 flags in neighborhoods that included East Ocean View, Bayview, Roosevelt Gardens and Northside.
``Last year, I put the flags out as a candidate,'' said Drake, an Ocean View resident. ``This year, I'm doing it as a delegate in conjunction with area civic leagues. It's part of big push to let residents know about their civic organizations.''
At about 6 a.m. July Fourth, Drake will join dozens of civic league volunteers in helping put up the flags in residents' front yards. Along with the flags, about one foot by one foot in size, residents will be given information about their civic league.
``Most folks are doing this to be patriotic, but it's also a good way to get residents who are unaware of the civic league to come around,'' Northside Civic League president Ray Steffens said.
While Drake is leading the flag-flying, Ocean View resident Judy Boone is directing the hanging of red, white and blue bows, also about a foot by a foot in size. Last year, Boone, along with help from Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3160, the Democratic and Social Club of Ocean View, and businesses and civic groups, hung nearly 1,500 bows along Ocean View Avenue, Granby Street, Tidewater Drive and Little Creek Road.
``It was a beautiful sight for people driving and walking around the neighborhoods,'' said Boone, who collected the money and bought every bow available at the Kmart at the intersection of Tidewater Drive and Little Creek Road.
Boone's inspiration for the neighborhood decoration came last year at an Ocean View community meeting to honor Hampton Roads firefighters who assisted in the cleanup of the Oklahoma City bombing. She said a video of the U.S. flag being raised on the bombing site was moving to everyone at the gathering.
``Patriotism is one thing all of the diverse people of Ocean View can agree on,'' Boone said. ``Although there's a lot of bickering here about neighborhood issues, we can show our true colors on the Fourth of July. It's unifying.''
Boone said she's talking to the ``movers and shakers'' of the community to get the project going, with hopes of beginning to hang bows a couple of days before July Fourth. Many of last year's displays were damaged or stolen and will have to be replaced. Volunteers will be needed to hang the bows.
But Boone said support will be no problem.
``We've already had people call to contribute money and time,'' Boone said. ``Once something's been started here, people expect it to be done from then on. I guess I've opened up Pandora's box, but it's a beautiful sight coming into Ocean View.'' MEMO: To help with the Fourth of July decorations, call Thelma Drake at
583-8787 or Judy Boone at 587-2800. ILLUSTRATION: Staff phto by LAWRENCE JACKSON
Boosting the flag effort are civic leaguers John Roger, Bay View
president, from left; Nelson Smith of Bromley; Virginia Roger of Bay
View; with Del. Thelma Drake, Ted Drake and Caity Sorey, Drake's
grandchild. by CNB