Old Glory flies high for late WWII vet Milt Pugsley

Val Valentine, Ron Christians, Bill Maxwell and Jim Howell work on some of the flagpoles at the Pentwater Artisan Learning Center. Photo by Ron Beeber.

Contributed by Ron Beeber.

PENTWATER — There’s nothing quite like walking down a community’s main street when both sides are lined with stars and stripes. That feeling of patriotism will take on an even deeper meaning this Memorial Day.

Pentwater Service Club members paid tribute to fellow member and World War II veteran Milt Pugsley, who passed away May 1, by volunteering their time to restore the village’s flagpoles.

Work on the flagpoles had begun before Milt’s untimely death, but it took on a more special meaning after his passing.

Milt Pugsley

“Club members are quick to step up to projects like this every time,” said President Bill Maxwell. “But this one is very special to us, because service club member Milt Pugsley had been a leader of the VFW’s flag restoration effort. But Mr. Pugsley passed away on May 1, just hours after being with us at service club the day before. That was a real blow to all of us.”

The service club helped with the VFW Post 6017 project that involved sanding, refinishing and painting most of the 92 flagpoles that display the post’s US flags along Hancock Street several times each year. The improvements are part of the VFW’s project aimed at replacing the faded flags and pairing them with reconditioned or new poles.

The VFW seeks contributions to its “Main Street Flag Fund” from individuals and community organizations. The Pentwater Junior Women’s Club has already made the first donation. Checks should be made payable to “VFW Post 6017,” with “Main Street Flag Fund” printed in the memo line, and mailed to P.O. Box 545, Pentwater, MI 49449.