Levandoski set out to retire the American Flag, and repair the 20-year-old flagpole. His vision was to have a new American Flag flying over Interstate 86, the Village of Falconer, town of Ellicott, and the town of Poland by the country’s 250th birthday on July 4.

“Work started this spring and was aided by several local businesses,” Levandoski said. “Moonlight Electric of Jamestown replaced the nighttime lighting. Maple Springs Tree Service trimmed trees to clear the area for the flag,” he said.

The new flag is 12 feet by 18 feet, and was supplied by Jamestown Awning and Tent.

The June 13 ceremony was attended by state Sen. George Borrello, R-Sunset Bay, Assemblyman Andrew Molitor, Chautauqua County Executive PJ Wendel, Ellicott Town Supervisor Janet Bowman, State Department of the American Legion Cmdr. John Miga, Eighth District American Legion Cmdr. Steven Cybart, American Legion Legionnaires, Sons of the American Legion Department 7th and 8th Vice Cmdr. Diman Smith, Sons of the American Legion 8th District Cmdr. Joshua Spinler, Sons of the American Legion Chautauqua County Cmdr. Benjamin Tadt, members of the Frewsburg Samuel L. Derby Post 556, members of the Frewsburg Scout Pack and Troop 133, numerous donors, and Allegheny Highlands Scout Executive Nate Thorton. Music was performed by members of the Frewsburg/ Falconer Marching Band directed by Alicia Laska.

Members of the Samuel Derby Post 556, Sons of the American Legion and Frewsburg Boy Scout Troop 133 helped to retire American flags at Homestead Park in Frewsburg. Submitted photo

“It went very well – good attendance,” Levandoski said of the event.

Levandoski said project donors included Lake Shore Paving, Joseph and Shirley Sanfilippo, Peter and Jane Fuller, Steven and Dr. Lynn Pownall, Jamestown Police Department Kendall Club, Falconer Volunteer Fire Department, Moonlight Electric of Jamestown, Maple Springs Tree Service, Jamestown Awning and Tent, Home Depot, Peterson’s Candies, Jamestown Area Community Federal Credit Union, Samuel L. Derby Post 556, Samuel L. Derby Auxiliary, Sons of the American Legion, Samuel L. Derby, Chautauqua County Sons of the American Legion; John W. Roger Post, Westfield, Lakewood Memorial Post, Lakewood, and Dunkirk Memorial Post, Dunkirk.

After the event, Levandoski said, a flag retirement ceremony was held June 14 in Frewsburg at Homestead Park. Samuel Derby Post 556 sponsored the flag retirement ceremony, and Frewsburg Boy Scout Troop 133 camped overnight at Homestead Park, and on Flag Day, scouts helped to retire the flags with Post Legion members and Sons of the American Legion members.