Dale and Dorothy McCammon

By TODD GOTTULA
Hub Staff Writer

KEARNEY - In the letter she wrote nominating her parents for this year's Freedom Award for voluntarism, Nancy Hansen of Kearney told a story from her childhood.

Recalling the November 1960 Hellman's Kaufmann- Wernert fire in downtown Kearney, Hansen said her father, Dale McCammon, spent the entire day fighting the blaze. When he came home and changed into dry clothes, Hansen began talking with her dad.

"As an elementary student, I knew even then that there had to be better hobbies than fighting fires," Hansen said. "So I asked him, 'Why do you do this?' His answer was simple, and something I've remembered since then."

"'We all have an obligation to give something back to the community we live in,'" McCammon told his daughter 42 years ago.

TODAY, McCammon and his wife, Dorothy, continue to volunteer in the community where they have lived since 1948. They have been selected by the Hub as the Freedom Award winners in the Service Organizations Category.

Although Dale served many years as a member of the Kearney Volunteer Fire Department, he and his wife of 51 years are being recognized for starting the tradition of displaying the Avenue of Flags along the streets of Kearney Cemetery every Memorial Day since 1984.

"I'm not a veteran, but you wouldn't believe the patriotism I feel when I see all those flags wave in the wind," said Kearney Cemetery Supervisor Steve Baye, who has helped the McCammons set up the flags each of the past 17 years.

The McCammons have had many leadership positions with the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Kearney. But their daughter, Nancy, said their most visible contribution has been promoting patriotism by collecting and displaying 325 of the more than 500 flags that have been donated to honor war veterans.

IN 1984, Dorothy McCammon was the outgoing president of the VFW Auxiliary. It was a tradition for the president to purchase a gift for other officers, but she decided to break tradition and donated that money to a fund set up to begin purchasing the first flags and poles.

The McCammons' dream became reality on Veterans Day in 1984 when 44 flags were displayed at the cemetery for the first time. With the exception of that first year, the flags have always been displayed on Memorial Day.

"The idea just blossomed and really started to grow after that first year," Dorothy said. "It was exciting for us because we went from hoping to have 75 flags to getting over 200."

"I never imagined that this idea would turn into the event it is today," Dale said. "In fact, it has almost gotten out of hand. We just have so many flags, and it takes a lot of work."

Now in its 18th year, the Avenue of Flags enjoys strong community support. A number of people help put out and take down the flags, including Boy Scouts, veterans and members of numerous Kearney organizations. The project has also sparked classes on flag etiquette for local youths, said Hansen.

"We even had a motorcycle gang show up and help last year," said a smiling Dale. "We had about 80 volunteers help last Memorial Day, and that was the most ever. It was terrific."

Christi Beistline of Kearney, who also nominated the McCammons for the Freedom Award, said Dale and Dorothy also deserve to be recognized for their efforts to place small flags on the graves of veterans buried at Kearney Cemetery.

"In this day and age, when so many are called to serve and protect us, it is important that we remember our veterans, past and present, and recognize those who help us honor them," Beistline said.

"Without the volunteer help and donations, we'd be sunk. We just couldn't do it," said Dorothy. "I can't count the number of people who have donated time or money."

THE McCAMMONS said they enjoy two things each Memorial Day when the flags are displayed: the camaraderie of the volunteers and the reactions of family members who have the flag of a loved one on display.

"It's just great to be out there with so many friends. We all lie to each other, shoot the bull and have a good time," joked Dale.

Dorothy quickly interrupted her laughing husband. "To me, there's nothing more emotional than seeing the widows sit down, look at those flags and just cry," she said, tears forming in her own eyes. "We get dozens of letters from people who say how much they have enjoyed what we have done. Those flags are pretty special to a lot of people, and that makes it special for us, too."

e-mail to:

todd.gottula@kearneyhub.com