San Carlos Park neighborhood displays flags in honor of Veterans Day

People in one San Carlos Park neighborhood are working to make a special display in honor of Veterans Day. The small neighborhood continues this tradition every year.

When you drive down San Carlos Boulevard in Lee County, you cannot miss the flags near every mailbox. The man who placed the flags is named Stanley Clark.

“People are just losing touch with being an American,” Clark said. “People are forgetting how great this country is, and with putting the flag that we might just increase it a little bit.”

Clark calls his effort “San Carlos Proud.” He came up with the idea in 2020 as a way to celebrate the Fourth of July. Now, on holidays like Labor Day, Memorial Day, and Veterans Day, he plants about 1,000 flags.

“If we see somebody walking up and they say thank you, that makes the whole day. Just one thank you makes the whole thing worthwhile,” said Clark.

Bob Blair is a Vietnam veteran. “When we’re all placing the flags, a lot of people stop and just ride a bike and beep the horn and wave. It’s encouraging for us,” Blair said.

Clark has about 20 volunteers helping him, walking from mailbox to mailbox. Blair saw Clark’s Facebook post a year ago. Ever since he’s been coming out to show display his patriotism. “It’s kind of my way of paying back to the community and the country.”

“I want to let the veterans know, we veterans to know that we respect them, that we honor them, that we are their families. Some of them have given up everything for this country, and without them, we wouldn’t probably be putting the flags up,” said Clark.

Each one of the flags is dedicated to someone who made a sacrifice for this country.

Blair told WINK News that it is vital for veterans to support other veterans. So, he invites all veterans to join San Carlos Proud in putting the flags out. If you would like to join san Carlos Proud, you can do so here.