Over Memorial Day weekend, American flags adorned Ponte Vedra Boulevard from the Duval County line south on Ponte Vedra Boulevard for four miles.
The project, named Patriotic Ponte Vedra, was initiated to honor the fallen war dead. Two local residents, Belk Ingram, a Ponte Vedra Club Realtor, and John Cellucci, a trustee of the Ponte Vedra Municipal Service District, created the project. The project was presented to the service district trustees, who unanimously voted to support the project and donated $1,000 to get the project started.
Fundraising was done by word of mouth, including a generous donation by the Ponte Vedra Community Association as well as several dozen Ponte Vedra Beach residents.
Gary Jurenovich, treasurer of the PVMSD was extremely helpful with installation and providing advice. The vendor, Randy Brown of Windy Creations, Jacksonville Beach, was instrumental in obtaining flags and hardware items, which are scarce, from American flag manufacturers that were closed during the COVID-19 pandemic. When the original flags purchased were back-ordered, Brown found a way to meet the project’s needs so the project would be successful and on time, and also ensure the flags were made in the United States. The Ponte Vedra Inn & Club also contributed support for the project.
The flags, which were up Friday, May 28, through Memorial Day, Monday, May 31, will also be flown later this year on the Fourth of July and Veterans Day.
