About the Flag
Old Glory Flies Thanks to VFW As the morning light revealed the extent of the tornado destruction at Hartsville Compressor Station on Feb. 6, the American flag atop the 50-foot pole on site was in tatters. Only one strip of white fabric remained, another indication of the incredible force that ripped through the station just hours earlier. As crews examined the damage and began to clear the wreckage, it was decided that a first symbolic step toward rebuilding Hartsville was restoring the station’s American flag. However, as Melissa Mauro in the Houston office soon found out, trying to have anything delivered into the tornado-ravaged rural countryside of Macon County seemed to be an impossible task. Mail service had stopped, and debris littered the roads providing access to the station. Upon finding a vendor to supply the flag, she was informed delivery costs would run as high as $700. That’s where the VFW came in. Volunteering to get a flag to the station after learning about the situation, members of Hartsville VFW Post 7135, including Ronnie Mowell, Edward Barber, Joe Ferguson and Bobby Gammon arrived at the site on Feb. 9. In an impromptu ceremony with Gulf’s Steve Belton, Randall Broussard and Kerry Butler, the flag was unfolded and saluted as it rose 50 feet into the clear blue sky above the station. To demonstrate the company’s appreciation for their effort, Hartsville Team Leader Chris Belcher visited the VFW in late February to present a $500 contribution to the VFW. Click below to view pictures of the inaugural Flag ceremony.
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