'C' Hill Foundation organizes

Work continues behind the scenes to protect and maintain the C Hill flag.

Dan Mooney, who worked with Gilbert Ayarbe and a host of volunteers to install the 120- by-67-foot flag after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, D.C., said the flag "hasn't changed a bit, hasn't deteriorated a bit. It's still going strong. It's supposed to last five to seven years."

Mooney said maintenance work will be done on the flag this spring. He said a preservative to protect the banner material will be sprayed on, and the stripes bent back by "the glacier" will be straightened.

"There's a glacier on it," he said. "It's about a foot and a half thick. Whenever it would snow, the snow would slide down the flag and collect at the bottom. It bent some of the stripes backwards. We'll have to put some sort of material up there to prevent that from happening next winter, but there's no visible damage."

Mooney said the beginnings of the nonprofit foundation formed to install, protect and maintain the American flag on the east face of C Hill are taking shape.

A meeting has been set for 10 a.m. on March 25 to give those who would like to participate the chance to formulate flag maintenance plans to help assure the ongoing integrity of the flag.

The meeting agenda also includes: preparation of by-laws, determining the corporate administrative structure, election of officers, a review of the accounts, determination of the status of the Forest Service permit and a review of insurance matters.

Mooney said the application of preservatives needs to be done each year.

"It's kind of a wax like you put on a car," he said. "You just spray it on."

So far, the flag has proven stable against wind and gravity.

"It hasn't moved," he said. "It hasn't moved down the hill even a quarter of an inch."

Mooney said costs to maintain the flag, about $5,000 initially, are unknown.

"This will be our first meeting of the nonprofit corporation," he said. "The only cost will be the stuff to preserve it until the stripes start wearing out and we start replacing the stripes. Until then it won't cost much at all. And, of course, there's the possibility if we find the right stuff it will last a hell of a long time.

"We have a graphic artist working on a three-dimensional picture so people can see what the under structure looks like and how it's attached to the mountain. It should be done this week."

Anyone interested in helping plan and care for the flag is encouraged to attend the meeting. For information call 882-5705 or e-mail nevada4@aol.com.

IF YOU GO

What: Meeting about C Hill Flag

When: 10 a.m. on March 25

Where: 402 N. Division St.

Information: Call 882-5705 or e-mail nevada4@aol.com.