HUNTINGTON, Texas (KTRE) – American flags line some streets in Huntington as part of a project known as Operation Fly a Flag.

Business owner Kelvin Jones, owner of Papa’s Pit and More, has been flying flags outside his restaurant for about six years. He bought them for his father, Thomas Jones, an Army veteran.

“He passed away in 2018 and it was just something I did for him. I try to support all of our veterans and appreciate what they have done for us,” Jones said.

Flags fly in honor of veterans. They were the product of their annual Veterans Day ceremony.

“It’s the great symbol for Americans to be proud of our nation,” said J’Nelle Short, the project’s organizer.

Operation Fly a Flag requires the help of the flag team, made up of high school students from Huntington High School, who install the flags in the ground.

Senior Aubree Easley said she has been waiting for years to be a part of it. She saw them flying when she was little, and it has stuck with her ever since.

“I was looking to see if I could do it my freshman year, but I couldn’t, so I had to wait until my senior year. This year I was able to be part of the flag team and help put up all of these flags to thank the veterans every year,” Easley said.

Flags are purchased for $40 each. The flags are accompanied by dedication plaques; people can dedicate them to everyone they know.

This year they are flying 591 flags, but from the beginning the goal has always been to have 1,000.

“As long as we can promote patriotism among our young people, this freedom that we have and love will endure. We don’t need to forget,” Short said.

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