Hayfield SAL continues to promote holidays with yard flags

More than a decade ago, a small group of people from the Hayfield Sons of American Legion came up with the idea of putting out flags by request for different holidays.
The idea took off.
“This project started about 12 years ago, when our commander brought the idea to our SAL group,” said Kaseky Krekling, a member of the Hayfield SAL. “It started small and has grown every year.”
He said the project started off with two or three routes around Hayfield, and now “we have double digit total routes that encompass the entire Hayfield Community Schools district and take many volunteers to get up all the flags.
“We thought it would be a great idea to show community pride, as well as raise funds so that we could give back to the community as they ask for help on various projects,” Krekling said, adding that there are many people involved, including someone who organizes the payments, and someone else who organizes the routes.
Three or four people will put out the flags across the 10 to 12 routes.
“We have great participation in our SAL, and it takes a lot for all of the routes to be covered all summer,” Krekling said.
Krekling said anyone who lives in the Hayfield Public School District and is interested in having a flag on their lawn can contact Krekling at 507-259-0192 to get signed up.
The cost is $25 per year for flags to be erected on Memorial Day, Flag Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day.
Krekling said they will put up close to 550 flags this year.