Flags of the fallen

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This Memorial Day weekend, Oakdale residents Dave and Kate Chan honored those who died serving our country by organizing a living and interactive monument, right in their front yard. On Friday, May 24, hundreds of American flags were planted in the couple’s front lawn to represent fallen soldiers, upholding a years-long tradition.

For 15 years, the flag adorning had been carried out in Northport in conjunction with the four-mile “I Did the Grid” Run/Walk race, held during Memorial day weekend. The race is held in honor of fallen soldier Christopher Sherer, who was born and raised in East Northport and grew up playing in the neighborhood he fondly referred to as “the Grid.” Christopher ultimately lost his life in 2007 while serving overseas in the province of Al Anbar, Iraq.

The race held in his memory benefits the Northport-based charity Cpl. Christopher G. Sherer Memorial Fund, amassing a total of over $1,000,000 for veterans’ services throughout the race’s 15 year run. The money raised from the race is donated to the American VetDogs, who provide guide dogs for veterans.

At The Grid, the organization planted one flag for every service member killed in action abroad in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“When the race started over 15 years ago, there were about 5000 and change, and then it became 6,000, and went up to just over 7,000,” shared Dave Chan, who served on the race committee.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the “I Did the Grid” race has been held virtually, and volunteers could not participate in the flag-planting ceremony in Northport as in previous years.

Since the race went virtual, Chan continues to honor the fallen and support our troops by organizing a flag-planting ceremony of his own in the front yard of his Oakdale home. Despite the race not currently running in person, the family still fundraises to sponsor a service dog through American VetDogs. Over the years, they have sponsored 29 dogs total.

While Chan places over 600 flags in his yard, instead of the thousands he planted in Northport, the sentiment remained the same: to honor each life given for our country’s freedom.

Friends and family gathered at the Chan residence Friday evening to plant the hundreds of miniature American flags. Dave and Kate’s daughter, Leah, helped place the flags with friends from her Girl Scout troop, Troop 253, and fellow students from Idle Hour Elementary.

“I know it is exciting for them to put in the flags. I hope the kids get something out of it, and understand the meaning of Memorial Day, to honor those who fought for our country and died for our freedom. It is not just refrigerator sales and time off of school,” explained Dave Chan. “If they even grasp some meaning of what the holiday is, then we accomplished something.”

In organizing the flag planting, the Chans created an interactive monument in their front yard with an extra personal touch. As neighbors pass the residence in the Oakdale neighborhood, they are reminded that they, too, can remember and honor fallen soldiers in their own way.