Frequently Asked Questions

Community Involvement

  • The Avenue of Flags (AOF) is a 100% volunteer-run nonprofit that relies entirely on community donations to operate.


    Materials—such as pipe and poles—are either donated or provided at cost by local supporters, helping keep the program sustainable.

  • Absolutely! Volunteers are the backbone of AOF.

    • The entire operation—from organization to execution—is managed by dedicated volunteers

    • Community members help with preparation work, such as locating buried flagpole pipes, raising and retiring flags, and spreading awareness that more help is needed

    • New volunteers are always welcome and NEEDED. Their support is deeply appreciated

    We love our volunteers!

  • AOF members regularly meet with community groups, such as schools, Kiwanis, and city organizations, to:

    • Share the history of the Avenue of Flags

    • Explain the purpose behind the flag displays

    • Answer questions about how and why the tradition continues

    That said, the organization recognizes that more can be done to spread the word and hopes to increase outreach efforts in the future. If you are interested in learning more and how your group can volunteer, contact us - we would love to spread the word.

  • Serving in remembrance of those who served our country is one of the most meaningful things we can do, and the Avenue of Flags offers many ways to get involved. Whether it’s helping prepare, set up, or lower the flags, there are opportunities to volunteer both the week before and on Memorial Day. You can give with your time or your resources - our mission grows through the generous efforts of volunteers and supporters like you.

Memorial Day Display

  • Flags are displayed at both Riverside Cemetery and Northlawn Cemetery in Spencer, Iowa, each Memorial Day. Volunteers set them up at 7:00 AM and lower them at 7:00 PM the same day (weather permitting).

  • 700+ flags are displayed at Riverside Cemetery

    Approximately 300 flags are displayed at Northlawn Cemetery
    Together, these displays create a powerful tribute to honor local and regional veterans.

  • Yes. A Memorial Day program is held annually:

    • Newly dedicated flags are presented and officially recognized during the ceremony.

    • Families are encouraged to attend and participate in the dedication of their loved one’s flag.

    For additional information, check the Spencer Daily Reporter, KICD, and follow us on Facebook for updates.

  • The event is open to everyone—no invitation required.
    All are welcome to attend, especially those wishing to honor fallen veterans or simply appreciate the powerful visual of hundreds of American flags on display.

  • Yes. The local VFW and American Legion are strong partners in supporting the Avenue of Flags mission and events.
    Many local businesses and organizations also contribute financial and logistical support to help make the event possible. 

Flag Collection Process

  • Flags are collected throughout the year, with a primary focus on the months leading up to Memorial Day.


    Family and friends wishing to dedicate a flag can contact the Avenue of Flags Secretary to make arrangements. You can also submit a request form here.

    • Burial flags can be dedicated to the Spencer Avenue of Flags in honor of any veteran.

    • The veteran does not need to be from Spencer or buried in Clay County.

    • Flags must meet certain size and condition requirements; if needed, a new flag can be purchased directly from the Avenue of Flags committee.

  • Each flag is:

    • Assigned a unique number upon receipt

    • Entered into a digital database with the veteran’s name, military branch, and war or conflict served

    • Labeled with an ID tag attached to the flagpole, displaying the veteran’s name, birth and death dates, and service details

    • Accompanied by a receipt mailed to the next of kin, confirming all recorded information

  • Yes. Each year on Memorial Day, a dedication program is held:

    • Newly donated flags are officially dedicated during the ceremony

    • Families are invited and encouraged to participate in the program, either by carrying or walking alongside their loved one’s flag as it is presented

    • Patriotism, expressed through public flag displays

    • Stewardship, carefully tracking and maintaining each dedicated flag

    • Education, sharing the significance of Memorial Day and the stories behind the flags

    These principles ensure that the organization stays focused on its purpose and impact.

Mission & Purpose

  • The core mission of the Avenue of Flags (AOF) is to honor the service and sacrifice of U.S. veterans by preserving and displaying burial flags in a powerful, community-driven tribute. Through volunteer efforts, memorial programs, and public education, the organization ensures that the legacy of veterans lives on visibly and meaningfully in the Spencer community.

  • AOF collects burial flags as a symbolic and deeply personal tribute to the lives and service of veterans. Families are invited to dedicate flags in memory of their loved ones, ensuring their stories are not forgotten. Displaying these flags each Memorial Day provides a public space for remembrance and gratitude, allowing families and the broader community to reflect on the cost of freedom and the lives behind each flag.

  • By displaying hundreds of burial flags on Memorial Day, the organization seeks to convey a message of unity, honor, and collective remembrance. It’s a visual expression of the community’s respect for those who served, a reminder that their sacrifices continue to be recognized and valued. The overwhelming sight of the flags—nearly 1,000 strong—serves as a powerful symbol of patriotism and gratitude.

  • The Avenue of Flags is guided by values of:

    • Respect and Honor for all veterans

    • Community Service, relying entirely on volunteers

    • Patriotism, expressed through public flag displays

    • Stewardship, carefully tracking and maintaining each dedicated flag

    • Education, sharing the significance of Memorial Day and the stories behind the flags

    These principles ensure that the organization stays focused on its purpose and impact.

  • The organization maintains a detailed database of each dedicated flag, including the veteran’s name, military branch, conflict served, and life dates. An ID tag is placed on each flagpole, and receipts are sent to families to confirm their dedication.
    On Memorial Day, a special ceremony is held to present and dedicate newly received flags, and families are invited to walk with or carry their loved one’s flag.


    AOF also reaches out to community groups to educate and share the importance of the display, always aiming to ensure the memory of each veteran is honored with dignity and care.

Organization History

  • The organization was founded in 1964.

  • The organization was founded by Frank Thomas and Jerry Dean. The idea was sparked when Jerry Dean’s father, Ross C. Dean—a World War I veteran—passed away in August 1963. Friends from Red Oak, Iowa, where Jerry grew up, told him about Red Oak’s Coat of Honors, a program that displayed veterans’ burial flags on Veterans Day and Memorial Day. Jerry visited Red Oak with his family on Veterans Day 1963 and was moved by the 157 flags displayed around the city square. Inspired, he felt that Spencer needed something similar.

    Since then, Frank and Jerry have helped establish flag programs in LeMars, Estherville, Storm Lake, Ocheyedan, and Hartley.

  • The goal was to ensure veterans' burial flags would be displayed and honored at least once a year, rather than being tucked away and forgotten.

    “After the funeral, the flag is presented to the next of kin and is usually placed in a drawer somewhere. I thought, and my mother agreed, that I’d rather see my dad’s flag flying one or two times a year, in his honor, than packed in a drawer at home, forgotten about.”
    – Jerry Dean, The Sioux City Journal, May 24, 1996.

  • The first program in 1964 featured 90 flags, which exceeded the founders' expectations.

    “I thought if we got 30–40 flags, we’d be fortunate, but when we came up with 90, we were just tickled to death about it. It’s just gotten bigger ever since.”
    – Jerry Dean, Sioux City Journal, May 24, 1996.

    Today, the display includes nearly 1,600 flags.

    • 1964: Initial display of 90 flags at Riverside Cemetery on Memorial Day and at the Spencer Courthouse on Veterans Day.

    • Mid-1960s: North Lawn Cemetery added as a Memorial Day display site.

    • Later years: Veterans Day display at the courthouse was discontinued due to unpredictable November weather.

    • 2024: Facing a shrinking volunteer base, the board of directors made the difficult decision to retire 600 flags (from Trailers 1 and 2) to ensure the display remains sustainable.