[10/28/03]A new U.S. flag went up the mast above the old Mississippi River Bridge Monday afternoon, the result of women donating their dollars at a local hair salon.

“This flag belongs to all of you,” flag-effort coordinator Blanche Millsaps said to the group of about 16 people gathered at the overlook near the Mississippi Welcome Center on Washington Street to watch the banner rise.

She noted that April will be the 10th anniversary since the first flag went up. Private, business and civic group donations have covered the cost of each banner, costing at least $700 each and replaced when weather-worn after about four months.

Gina’s Hair Effects, 2222 S. Frontage Road, sponsored the flag raised Monday, and dedicated it to veterans throughout American history.

Betty Hoofman read names of veterans from World War II, Vietnam, the Gulf War, the Bay of Pigs crisis and current conflicts that were noted by the shop’s patrons as they made their gifts.

Coming out to see the flag raised meant “respect to all my fellow veterans who died when I was over there,” said Larry Osbon, 56, a Vietnam veteran who attended the ceremony. He said it’s moving to see the flag up on the bridge as a reminder of sacrifices for freedom.

Elbert Redditt, 82, a World War II veteran who earned a Purple Heart and four battle stars, said the flag meant a lot to him when he was fighting in the Philippines. He was shot in the leg as a young soldier, ending his time in the military.

Millsaps said she has no plans to stop making sure a flag is always on the bridge. “Not as long as I have people to give and keep it going,” she said.

After the banner was raised by bridge staff, retired Maj. Gen. Gene P. Hale led the Pledge of Allegiance. He reminded those present that there is no comma between “one nation” and “under God,” and all followed his instruction of not pausing between those words. “It’s one nation under God, indivisible ….” Hale said. “Children need to be taught how to say it the right way in school.”

The bridge was privately built and operated to make money for stockholders until the years after World War II. The Warren County Board of Supervisors bought it then as an investment-type property, paid off the cost through vehicle tolls and now use the income from railroad tolls for maintenance.

The bridge commission authorized the mast for the flag, supported by the Warren County Board of Supervisors.

Some have criticized the bridge commission for not purchasing replacement flags or formalizing the process as opposed to reliance on volunteers.

The commission’s attorney, Bobby Bailess, said the bridge is under a contract with the Kansas City Southern Railway Company to charge only the cost of bridge maintenance, and the bridge has no income other than rail and utility tolls.

“If it ever becomes an issues to where the private donations for flags dries up,” Bailess said, “the commission’s next step would be to contact the railroad.”

He said he didn’t feel like the railroad company would refuse to buy flags, but it has never been asked to do so.