PROSPECT — During Prospect resident Robert Hiscox’s travels across New England he would often see American flags flying on poles along the streets in other towns.
“I often thought why not in Prospect?” Hiscox said.
That thought has materialized into a project spearheaded by Hiscox to line Prospect’s streets with Old Glory as a way to honor the spirit of America and veterans.
“I think it’s going to bring a spirit to the town and pride to the town,” Hiscox said.
Hiscox went before the Town Council March 6 seeking permission to set up the Prospect Flag Fund through Town Hall. Hiscox’s request was met with resounding approval.
“I think it’s great,” Town Council Chair Tom Galvin said. “It got unanimous support.”
Galvin felt such a project speaks to the civic nature of the community.
“I think it speaks to our patriotic nature,” he said.
Hiscox said the goal is to raise about $2,500 through donations to buy 50, 2.5-by-4-foot, all weather flags with poles and brackets to mount along Route 68 and Route 69 downtown. His intent is to have the flags up from Memorial Day through Veterans Day. Hiscox is already a fifth of the way to his fundraising goal.
Hiscox got the fund started with $500 from gifts given to him for his retirement. Hiscox retired last June after 38 years of teaching in the Newington school system. Hiscox said the flag project was one he always intended to start when he retired, so rather than have his peers give him gifts, such as gift cards, he requested all gifts be sent to the town to establish the fund.
“I just felt it was a way to give back to the community and do something nice for the town,” Hiscox said.
Now, Hiscox is seeking donations to achieve his goal of $2,500. The plans are to have some flags up this Memorial Day with whatever funds have been raised by then. If all else fails and the project doesn’t come to fruition, Hiscox said, the money will then go towards the town’s Children Fund.
Although Hiscox initiated the project, he doesn’t want it to be an individual project and is seeking town organizations and volunteers to get involved.
“I want this to become a community project,” Hiscox said.
Anyone or organization interested in helping out can call Hiscox at (203) 758-4687.
To donate, checks can be made out to: Town of Prospect—Flag Fund, and mailed to Prospect Flag Fund, Prospect Town Hall, 36 Center St., Prospect, CT 06712.
