The Parsons High School main gym is now graced with a large, 12-foot by 18-foot motorized American flag - a generous donation from the Beneke and Wheat families.
“The flag was the idea of the Beneke family, (William and Shirley). They are the Wheat family's grandparents,” Assistant Principal Tyler Thompson said.
David Wheat, a graduate of Parsons High School, and his wife Karen (Beneke) Wheat had three boys graduate from Parsons, Landon, Aidan and Ethan, Principal Rob Barcus explained.
“They wanted to donate something to the school in honor of the boys. We talked and they came up with the idea of a big flag in the gym because they had seen them in other places," Thompson said.
Working with the family, the school checked out different companies and decided on Martin's Flag Company.
“The family wanted a horizontal flag instead of a vertical one like a lot of school’s have. They were adamant. They thought the horizontal would look better,” Thompson said. “I agree.”
They were not sure the flag would make it in time to be installed for use during winter sports, when the gym is most actively in use by the public.
“After we ordered it, it was another six weeks before it shipped and then it took a couple of weeks for it to ship. We were hoping to have it in time to use it during basketball before the season was over,” Thompson said.
The flag came in on Thursday Feb. 27 and maintenance got right on it. They got it up on Friday, Feb. 28 and got the electric installed to it on Monday March 3, so they could have it operational for Tuesday’s final game of the season.
In the shipping crate, the whole thing weighed about 500 pounds. The large flag and motorized housing alone weigh more than 400 pounds. Thompson said it was all hands on deck using ropes to raise it to get it installed. Students helped man the ropes with staff to raise it to the ceiling.
“We had two lifts, one on each end, to install it from the ceiling.”
“The day of the sub-state game, they were in here putting the final touches on it.,” Thompson said.
Large vinyl lettering was applied to the housing, noting who the flag was donated by, but it did not adhere well and began peeling off by the end of the day. They removed the vinyl and put a temporary sign on it until they can arrange for someone else to come in and do the signage.
“We’ll probably get Wright Signs to come in and do it,” Barcus said.
Thompson and Barcus said the flag looked very nice as it was lowered to say the pledge before the sub-state game.
The public will get a chance to see it again this year as they gather to watch the Class of 2025 graduate May 11.