C Hill flag could be back by Fourth of July

Leaders of the crews reconstructing the flag on C Hill say it's possible we'll see Old Glory high above Carson City by Independence Day.

"It's just grown to be a lot more complicated than we thought," said Robin Williamson, president of the C Hill Foundation. "But I think we can be finished within the next six weeks. If we could have it by July 4th that would be really cool.

"I think people like the idea of it. It was just a nice symbol. Most people really enjoyed it. We really want to get it back up."

Beginning at 10 a.m. Monday Nevada National Guard crews using Chinook helicopters will airlift pallets of cement from the football field at Carson Middle School to a storage site on C Hill. The National Guard crews have volunteered to help and use the airlift as a training exercise for handling high altitude sling loads.

Tod Jennings, a member of the C Hill Foundation, said there will be water trucks on the field to reduce dust and also at the C Hill site. He warned those living west and south of the football field that it will be a noisy operation.

The 55 forms for the concrete anchors to hold the 390 panels that will create the flag have been built. The panels will attach to the anchors on a frame constructed of used drilling pipe.

The foundation is considering using a contractor to assemble the pipe frame, but is waiting for a quote on the cost.

Gil Ayarbe, who is coordinating volunteer labor for the project, said they have been frugal: collecting donations of pipe from a company in Salt Lake City, welding of the pipe will be done by a company from Reno, which like the guard is using the welding for training purposes, and Hess Microgen in Mound House has cut the panels into 4-by-5 foot sections, while the Nevada Division of Forestry crews are applying paint to reduce the reflective properties of the panels. United Rentals is helping with Monday's forklift work and Basalite has sold the cement at a discount.

"It's getting exciting now," Ayarbe said. "But I think we're going to need more money."

Volunteers will also be needed to install the panels once the anchor and pipe work are complete.

Last week, Nevada Division of Forestry crews leveled the site where the cement will be kept on C Hill and cleaned the area in preparation for Monday's airlift.

Kelli Du Fresne is features editor for the Nevada Appeal. Contact her at kdufresne@nevadaappeal.com or at 881-1261.

flag day ceremonies

• 2004 Flag Day Ceremony and U.S. Army's 229th birthday, 10 a.m. at the Veterans Memorial Wall, State Capitol Complex. Call 887-7250.

• Flag Day ceremony at 6:30 p.m. at Carson City Elks Lodge No. 2177, 515 N. Nevada St. Call 882-2177.

• Minden-Douglas Elks Lodge No. 2670 is holding a Flag Day ceremony, 3 p.m. at the lodge, 1276 Pit Road, Gardnerville.

you can help

What: Help return the flag to C Hill

To volunteer labor, contact:

Gil Ayarbe 882-1681

To donate goods or services, contact:

Robin Williamson 883-9577

To make a financial contribution,

contact:

Chris MacKenzie 687-0202

For information: Go online at

www-c-hill-us

Flag Budget

$45,000 - Money raised

$20,000 - Colored panels

$3,000 - Cement

$2,500 - Paint

$8,000 - Bill Miles Construction

$11,500 - Money left in bank to complete construction