The New Glarus Lions Club has completed a flagpole project at Veterans Memorial Park, adding a new 25-foot pole and relocating two existing 20-foot poles so flags are visible from the village ball field.

The three poles were installed beyond the right-center-field fence, with the new pole equipped with solar lighting and intended to fly the American, Wisconsin and POW flags. The two relocated poles had previously stood at Village Park near the Lions-built gazebo memorializing New Glarus Charter Lions and longtime Lion Ron Martinson.

The project grew out of an observation by Lions Club President Jason Fritz, a former New Glarus varsity baseball assistant coach. During last season’s playoffs, Fritz noticed while standing with the team for the national anthem that no flags could be seen from the field because the existing memorial flags near the road were blocked by the shelter pavilion and mature trees.

Fritz, Lions administrator Milo Parker and Lions secretary Bill Hustad then worked with local veterans organizations and village officials to move the project forward. Financial support came from the New Glarus VFW, New Glarus American Legion, Wisconsin Vietnam Veterans Chapter III and AMVETS.