CLARKSVILLE, IN (February 16, 2023) – Clarksville residents are invited to join Boy Scout Troop 4010 and Town of Clarksville officials as we celebrate the installation of new flag poles in Lewis and Clark Park. The celebration will be held on Monday, March 4th at 6:00pm in the park.
In Fall 2023, the Clarksville Parks and Recreation Department was forced to remove three large flag poles from Lewis and Clark Park. The flag poles were simply logs trimmed to resemble poles, like the historic flag poles from the days of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark.
Since the flag poles were not like traditional poles of today, the flags couldn’t be lowered and raised with a rope. Instead, the Clarksville Fire Department would have to visit the park with a ladder truck whenever the tattered flags needed to be replaced. Unfortunately, due to part of the nearby road being washed away by the Ohio River, the fire department can no longer get a truck back into the park safely. With no way to replace the flags when they became worn the Parks and Recreation Department decided to remove the flag poles.
Troop 4010 Boy Scout Gabe Ellnor decided to help by replacing the poles as part of his Eagle Scout project. Eagle Scout projects are an opportunity for a Scout to demonstrate leadership of others while performing a project for the benefit of their community. Ellnor raised thousands of dollars for supplies, and with the help of his family and scout troop, erected two new modern flag poles. Now the Clarksville Parks Department can proudly fly the American flag again in Lewis and Clark Park.
Members of the public and the media are invited to join Gabe Ellnor, Troop 4010, and town officials as they celebrate with a flag raising ceremony and ribbon cutting in the park on Monday, March 4th.