You've probably driven past it countless times; maybe even stopped in front to take a picture. But over the years, the old barn just off Highway 41 and Avenue 12 in Madera has taken a beating by Mother Nature.More >>
MADERA COUNTY, Calif. (KMPH) -
The flag barn in Madera County is considered one of the most inspiring landmarks in the Valley. As of the 4th of July the barn now has company.
Just a few months ago the flag barn was a mess after being hit by high winds. The people who repaired and restored the barn decided to fly a flag daily by the barn. They waited until the Fourth of July to raise it for the first time. It was a simple ceremony that carried so much meaning. "Ready, salute. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America."
It started with repairing the barn and then adding a flag pole. Freelance writer Christy McKinney gets some of the credit for getting the flag barn to sparkle with its red, white and blue.
She wrote a column about it being blown down in the Madera Ranchos newspaper. "Had an overwhelming response from everybody that saw it especially on Facebook."
Vietnam veteran Thomas Baum read the column and he helped round up a crew to fix the barn. "This is a main artery for all the tourists going to Yosemite and stuff like that. And it really would have been a shame that if we let it lay like it was. People all over the world see the American flag out here."
Now that the barn is back to looking beautiful the group decided to put up a flag pole and fly the flag daily. "We just came out to make sure that the 4th of July comes in really, really good and bring some of America back to a real country."
Baum says the daily raising of the flag near Highway 41 and Avenue 12 in Madera County is to honor wounded warriors and all veterans.
Robert Talbot enjoyed the ceremony. "It's absolutely amazing what these folks have done with the barn and being able to put up the flag means a lot."
Within minutes Old Glory was waving in the wind. A new addition to a patriotic corner in the Valley.
Thomas Baum has agreed to take down the flag each night because no light was installed on the flag pole.
