Sam Cross spent the morning of his wedding day turning Lubbock neighborhoods into patriotic symbols for Memorial Day.
Cross and some members of his wedding party woke up early Monday, with only a few hours of sleep, to erect U.S. flags around Lubbock as part of a Kiwanis Club fundraiser that benefits local children’s charities. It’s something the Kiwanis president has been doing for three years, and his commitment to the fundraiser, local charities and the symbol of the flag kept the tradition alive even on his wedding day – luckily his bride-to-be didn’t schedule the big event until the evening. Cross and his group spent about 11/2 hours peppering the city with 59 flags. Total, Kiwanis Club members put up about 600 flags around Lubbock on Memorial Day. Cross said he hopes the hundreds of flags brought out for the holiday help Lubbock residents remember those who paid the ultimate sacrifice as well as what the flag stands for. “I would hope they take pause and be happy they have an opportunity to live in a country like America,” Cross said. “I’m honored somebody was willing to go the extra mile for me.” The flag program is the club’s main fundraiser each year.
Residents and businesses can sign up to have flags erected on their property five days a year for $25.