When Victor Gustafson looks out his window at Mt. Hope Nazarene Retirement Community, he can see a wish come true. Gustafson, a Navy veteran, had wanted a flagpole on-site at the community for a while, and he was able to witness its dedication on May 24.

"Victor had said a number of times, 'It sure would be nice and patriotic to have a flagpole and an American flag waving in front of our facility,'" recalled Jim Day, life enrichment director and chaplain at Mt. Hope. Day and other staff members at Mt. Hope began to research ways to complete the project, eventually connecting with the Manheim Sertoma Club and the Manheim VFW Post 5956 - Cyrus R. Peters Memorial Post.

Members of the Sertoma Club acquired the flagpole and the materials needed to install it, said Craig Fisher, commander of the Manheim VFW, while the Manheim VFW auxiliary obtained the flag and the VFW coordinated the color guard and flagpole dedication ceremony.

Retired Brig. Gen. and Manheim VFW member George Schwarz served as master of ceremonies for the dedication. Other guests from Mt. Hope included resident and Army veteran Donald Geib and resident and Navy veteran Bruce McMillian. Tracy Tunstall, VFW auxiliary president, read "Old Glory" at the ceremony, and Fisher, who is also the VFW chaplain, gave an invocation and benediction.

"The flagpole is just east of the center of a grassy area in front of the building," Day noted, adding that the placement was intentional so Gustafson can see the flag from his room. Day said having a flagpole at the Manheim community is important because Mt. Hope regularly houses veterans. He said the flag will always fly unless the weather is severe, and he noted that Gustafson was especially moved at the ceremony. "He really loved it and was very thankful for all involved," Day remarked. "The residents present loved it, and folks stayed after for a while and were talking and enjoying a very important moment at Mt. Hope."

Gustafson raised the flag at the ceremony, Fisher said, adding, "More than a few people said they shed some happy tears at watching him raise the flag and the way the ceremony turned out." Fisher emphasized that the flagpole installation and dedication was a joint effort of several community groups, something he'd like to encourage more of in his new role as post commander. "We need to reach our veterans as well as the whole community to re-establish a conversation and renew our sense of community," he noted.

Day said he anticipates the new flagpole will help continue to foster a sense of community at Mt. Hope. "Recently, I did the Pledge of Allegiance and almost everyone immediately put their hand over their heart and looked at the flag and said the Pledge with me," he recalled. "It was a very moving experience. They all said they love having the flag in front of our building."