Realtors Bring the Red, White, and Blue Downtown
In small town Starkville, it’s not uncommon for community members to go above and beyond in the spirit of celebration and service. For nearly three decades, one group of local realtors have made it their mission to spread patriotic spirit in a unique, vibrant way. Every year, just before Independence Day, residents of Starkville wake up to the sight of American flags boasting the red, white, and blue.
On the frontline of this competent team is Coldwell Banker S.R.E. Realtors. Each year, they distribute more than 3,000 flags as a mark of honor to veterans, turning the city’s central business district into a sight of patriotic beauty. Entirely community-focused, the team consists of friends, family, and agents of the firm who come together to create a spectacle the citizens of Starkville anticipate every year.
The Start of the Tradition
Broker and owner of Coldwell Banker S.R.E. Realtors, Michelle Amos, brought the idea to life 28 years ago. Initially, the project was only limited to local neighborhoods, but as Starkville expanded, it became impossible to reach all the locations. The decision was then made to focus on downtown Starkville, and this tradition still carries on today.
Jan Rhodes, a realtor, and her late husband Melvin, a Vietnam veteran, were instrumental in the initial years of the flag distribution. They intended to invoke local patriotism, so Melvin would visit every neighborhood in person, striking conversations with residents and forming new connections as he did.
An Act of Gratitude and Remembrance
The community reciprocates the efforts of Amos and Rhodes with heartfelt gratitude. Various individuals and businesses often express their thanks for the team’s service. Year after year, the flag distribution continues to amplify in Starkville, showcasing the love, respect, and admiration citizens harbor towards their veterans.
“Every year it brings up the memory of how much it meant to (Melvin),” says Amos, highlighting the emotional connect these realtors have with the event. She believes that this memorabilia is an honorable way to acknowledge past and present servicemen and women, remembering their sacrifice and dedication. And the team has got the whole process down to a science, learning over the years to use wagons and drills, rather than attempting to get the flags into the hard ground by hand.
It’s an endeavor that is close to many hearts. it’s a show of gratitude towards the contributions of veterans – a sentiment shared by Rhodes as well. She, like many others, was brought up in a family with service members. To her, the flag distribution is a thank you to her father, her husband, and all veterans who made sacrifices.
Honoring the Land of Free
Rhodes is hopeful that this tradition will continue and constantly remind the people of their fortunate lives in America. “To me, it sets the tone for the whole town for the holiday,” she said. “I hope that it makes people realize how fortunate we are to live in America, in the land of the free, because I feel like a lot of this we take for granted.”
In this small corner of the world, realtors are doing more than selling properties; they’re fostering a tradition, evoking patriotism, honoring service members, and building stronger community relations – all with the wave of the red, white, and blue.
