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Hubbard celebrates Independence Day with 5,000 flags
HUBBARD
Rich Suhovecky continued his annual project of placing the colors of American patriotism throughout Hubbard.
The agent with Burgan Real Estate coordinates the placement of 5,000 small U.S. flags in front of homes in the days leading up to the Fourth of July.
“The people of Hubbard look forward to this every year,” Suhovecky said.
The project started eight years ago in Hubbard with the placement of 1,000 flags.
“Hubbard is a very patriotic town,” he said.
He and the youth group of Covenant Life Fellowship led by youth Pastor Dennis Cohol have placed flags in each front yard.
“The weather has been a bit of a hindrance to that,” he said.
Last month was the third-wettest June in the Mahoning Valley with 9.02 inches of rain.
Suhovecky and about 25 youth group members still had 700 flags to go when they hit Fifth Avenue and other streets Thursday evening. The flags have a card with the message: “Exercise Daily. Walk with God.”
The flags also come with a donation to Covenant Life Fellowship from both Suhovecky and John Burgan, president of Burgan Real Estate. Suhovecky, who attends the church, would not disclose the amount donated but said the funds go to missionaries oversees.
“It’s always about giving back to the community,” he said.
The flag project was started by Karen Ament, another agent with Burgan Real Estate, who started it in 1994, according to Vindicator files. Other agents also participate in the project.
Pastor Cohol said he enjoys chatting with residents while he walks around to plant the flags. “A lot of people have stories of their siblings or their kids being in the military,” he said. “I get choked up about it. I’ve got a lot of family in the military.”
John Burgan, co-founder of Burgan Real Estate, said the agency works with local organizations to distribute about 12,000 flags every year in towns across the greater Youngstown area.