Volunteers Install Free Flagpoles for Caldwell Veterans
A retired Navy officer and local veterans are spending odd days digging and raising poles for neighbors in Canyon County.
By Justin Brooks ·
Volunteers in Caldwell are installing free flagpoles at the homes of local veterans. The group, known as Flags for Vets, places the poles at no cost to the recipients. The effort focuses on helping veterans in Canyon County display the American flag at their residences.
Warren Burch, a retired Navy chief petty officer, started the program in Canyon County this past year. Burch served in the Navy for 20 years before retiring in 1982. He developed the idea after reading about a similar initiative in the Star newspaper in late 2024. He observed that veterans in Caldwell, Nampa, and Middleton lacked access to such a service.
The volunteer team works on Mondays and Wednesdays. They dig holes, level the ground, and raise the flags. Businesses like Lowe's and Home Depot donate or discount the necessary materials. This support allows the group to provide the poles without charging the veterans.
The crew recently completed installations on Driving Lane, a street off Old Highway 30. Burch, Gene Clements, and Randy Jensen installed flagpoles for 18 veterans on that block. Burch refers to the street as a patriotic stretch of homes. Frank McCrady, a U.S. Army Special Forces veteran, was the first person in the program to receive a pole.
McCrady previously stationed in Okinawa, Japan, said he had always flown a flag in his front yard. He signed up for the program quickly after learning about it. He now volunteers with the crew to help install poles for others. He described the work as a team effort, noting that it mirrors military culture.
Burch said some veterans become emotional during the installation. He explained that the moment often brings back memories of service and comrades who did not return home. Clements, a volunteer, said the work is about veterans helping one another. He stated that helping others in the community will benefit the volunteer in return.
Burch noted that Veterans Day highlights the shared love of country among service members. He said the group serves a purpose larger than any individual. Veterans interested in receiving a flagpole can contact Burch directly. His phone number is (208) 513-0001.
