Brooklyn Flags Store paving the way for the flag display

     The Brooklyn Community of Flags Store is co-managed by volunteers Mindy Holder, left, and Darlene Doorenbos, right. Funds raised from the sale of flags and various other vendor’s items are used to support the Brooklyn Flag Display and purchase flags for Jackson Street.

By J.O. Parker
 
       The Community of Flags Store is helping keep the Poweshiek County community of Brooklyn a destination stop along Interstate 80, Highway 6 and all across Iowa.
      Located at 114 Jackson St., the Flag Store first opened in November 1991 offering antiques and numerous flags.
    Today, the store offers flags from USA, Iowa, Brooklyn and military service flags along with Titan telescoping flag poles and flag accessories. There are currently 40 vendors selling a variety of wares at the store.
     In addition to the flags, the business offers antiques, gift items, collectables, rocks and minerals, puzzles, clothes for all ages, shoes, books, quilts, Hot Wheels, various trading cards, glassware, dishes, tins, collectable plates, holiday decorations, dolls, DVDs, toys, ty beanies, home décor, jewelry, greeting cards, sports collectables, boardgames, goat milk soap bars, hats, furniture items, picture frames, purses, totes and much more.
     The store is run by volunteers and is under the direction of co-managers Darlene Doorenbos and Mindy Holder.
      The store came about thanks in part to Gary Hash of Brooklyn.
     In the early 90s, Hash, a veteran, wanted to decorate the town cemeteries and the city approved the move.
He raised money and 80 flags were purchased and placed in the town’s two cemeteries.
     “I took it under my wings and did the project myself,” said Hash. “I even dug the holes with a shovel for the flags.”
     When news that RAGBRAI would be rolling through Brooklyn in 1991, it was decided to use the cemetery flags to line Jackson Street.
     That move was quite a hit as bicyclists rolled through town. That led to the now late Alex Wehrle, a former Brooklyn businessman, to lead the charge to raise funds and build a permanent flag display.
      He approached the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce and set the wheels into motion.
     The display is located on the west side of Jackson Street between Casey’s and the William Manatt House (Brooklyn Historical Museum).
     The display features an 80-foot flag pole with a 20’ by 38’ US Flag. There are 11 rows of five similar flag poles that gradually lead up to steps to the large pole. Each of the 25’ poles has one of the 50 state flags.
     There are also military flags around the large flag poles honoring the military branches of the Navy, Air Force, Army, Marines, Coast Guard, POW/MIA and Space Force.
     The first row features flag poles if there is a foreign exchange student or dignitary in town. There are also flag poles for EMS and Vietnam Veterans flags.
      Wehrle designed the layout and donated the 80’ flag pole. 
      The Community of Flags Display was open to the public in June 1992.
      Since its opening, the flag display has drawn many guests from across the globe.
     In June 2022, a bronze statue of Harold “Pie” Keller and three other World War II Veterans was added to Community of Flags Display. Keller, who hailed from Brooklyn, was one of six Marines who placed the American Flag on Mount Saribachi during the Battle of Iwo Jima on Feb. 23, 1945. The flag raising was captured by AP photographer Joe Rosenthal.
      The Community of Flags Store is the fundraising arm for the upkeep and improvement of the flag display and the flags located on Jackson Street.
       The business is under the direction of the Brooklyn Community Betterment and is a 504c organization.
     Currently, the large flag is removed in November and raised in May. The Brooklyn Ruritan Club does the maintenance at the flag display and replaces the flags donated by the Community of Flags Store. 
    Previously, there have been three people who have repaired the large flag in past years. They included Dorothea Hicks, Dorothy Miller and Elizabeth Montgomery.
     Vendors who sell goods at the store pay a booth fee and a percentage of their sales goes to the store. They also are asked to volunteer one to two days per month at the store.
     “It’s always been volunteer run,” said Doorenbos.
     Doorenbos and Holder encourage the Brooklyn community and area residents to visit the store and check out the flags and many other offerings.
     “We always enjoy seeing repeat customers and new faces,” said Doorenbos.
     The flag store is open seven days a week. Hours are M-F, 9–5; Saturday, 9-4; and Sunday, 11-4. The store number is 641-522-5488.