Students raise money for C Hill flag

It used to be that Bordewich-Bray Elementary School students could look up from their playground and see the giant C Hill flag.

"It was just nice to look up at it during recess," said Taren Kinney, 11. "It just reminded us why we're here and that we're free."

When high winds destroyed the flag, leaving only a barren patch of earth as a reminder, third-grade teacher Pat Farnworth decided to do something about it.

"I love that flag so much and felt so bad when it blew off," she said. "I thought what a neat idea to have our school raise funds for it because we have the advantage of seeing it every day. We missed it."

What started as a fund-raiser in her classroom expanded to encompass the entire school.

The students collected $650 and the parent-teacher association agreed to match the donation, bringing the total up to $1,300.

"We're overwhelmed," Supervisor Robin Williamson said. "This is wonderful. It's generous from the PTA and just fabulous from the students."

Principal Sue Keema extended a challenge to all other schools in the district to host similar fund-raisers and an invitation to the community to get involved.

"We challenge any other community organization to match what the children have done," she said.

Members of the flag foundation are working with architect Mike Mitchell to create a flag that will not be destroyed by Mother Nature.

The new flag will be made up of 390 seperate panels, which will cost $75 each.

Patrick Rosario, 9, supports the effort to create new, more permanent flag.

"It's good because of the war we just had and for some of the people that died," he said. "They know that we respect them and we still care."

And it will touch more than just Carson City.

"It's an honor for the whole United States," said Maria Arcadia, 9.