Bob Pinnell, Eagle Point resident and Eagle Point-Upper Rogue Community Foundation volunteer, demonstrates how to place a flag roadside in downtown Eagle Point Thursday evening.

While the American flag may simply be a three-colored rectangle of nylon or polyester, the 50 stars and 13 stripes symbolize centuries of sacrifice to protect the freedom and safety of United States citizens. And, for many military members, it symbolizes the ultimate sacrifice.

Throughout Memorial Day weekend, more than 400 American flags will line Main Street, Stevens Road and other parts of Eagle Point in honor of U.S. military members who died in service to their country.

Founded in 1996, Avenue of the Flags is organized and set up by the Eagle Point-Upper Rogue Community Foundation. The foundation is a nonprofit focused on community enhancement projects and programs, fundraising for area youth, putting up lamppost banners and other causes.

The foundation took over Avenue of the Flags from the Eagle Point Chamber of Commerce in 2016, according to Bob Pinnell, a foundation volunteer and Eagle Point resident.

Avenue of the Flags started out downtown on Main Street, expanded to Linn Road on both sides, then to Stevens Road on both sides. “This will be the first time we’ll be having this on both sides of Main Street,” Pinnell said.

Volunteers with the foundation set up the flags on Thursday and will leave them out through Tuesday.

The flags, which line the streets on the way to Eagle Point National Cemetery, were donated after being draped over the caskets of veterans during their funerals.

“We put the name of the service member on it, we put the branch of service they were in, and if they served in any conflict, we put the conflict on there, as well,” Pinnell said. “It tears me up every time I receive one, and I’ve received a lot of flags over the years.”

He added: “I have my cousin’s flag up there, my uncle’s flag up there and friends over the years.”

The intent of Avenue of the Flags is to honor military veterans — and specifically to honor fallen soldiers for Memorial Day.

“I think it’s important we honor them,” Pinnell said, “because whether they were Black, white, Jewish or Christian or atheist, they all served our country to have the freedoms we have.”

The foundation has volunteers who set up the flags prior to Veterans Day, but it could always use an extra pair of hands, regardless of age or experience.

“I think it’s important to get the kids involved in the community,” Pinnell said. “Not everybody, even in Eagle Point, knows that they’re casket flags and it’s an all-volunteer group.”

The foundation has two groups of volunteers putting up flags: one that starts on Stevens Road and mostly consists of veterans over 70, the other in downtown Eagle Point with a wide range of helpers, including members of the local Boy Scouts troops and the Eagle Point High School band.

To volunteer, call Pinnell at 541-840-8697 or email the foundation at epurcommunityfoundation@gmail.com.

The foundation also puts the flags up for other U.S. holidays, including the Fourth of July, Labor Day, Veterans Day and 9/11.

To learn more about the Eagle Point-Upper Rogue Community Foundation, visit the organization’s Facebook page at facebook.com/EPURCommunityFoundation.

Honor fallen Rogue Valley servicemen and women by visiting a Memorial Day event on Monday.

Eagle Point Avenue of the Flags: The Flag Committee of the Eagle Point Chamber of Commerce will display more than 175 flags along a route which begins at Highway 62 and leads to the Eagle Point National Cemetery, 2763 Riley Road. Each flag displayed once draped the casket of an American veteran and was donated by the families of the men and women who made possible the freedoms that we enjoy. For further details, email info@avenueoftheflags.org.

Shady Cove Flag Ceremony: Honor those who sacrificed so much for the freedoms we enjoy during Shady Cove’s Memorial Day flag raising ceremony and pancake breakfast, held from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Monday, May 27, at the Shady Cove City Hall, 22451 Highway 62. Admission is free; donations gladly accepted. For more information, call 541-878-2225.

Historic Cemetery Open House: The IOOF Eastwood Cemetery, also known as Medford Odd Fellows Cemetery, will hold an open house in honor of Memorial Day, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, May 27, at the cemetery, 1581 Siskiyou Blvd., Medford. Founded in 1890, Eastwood Cemetery is associated with the earliest period of settlement of Medford and is on the National Register of Historic Places. The cemetery is the first and oldest continuously operating cemetery in Medford, and is the resting place for hundreds of early families including many prominent local citizens, merchants and city officials. Volunteers and staff will be on hand to assist with questions. For further information call 541-774-2400.

Memorial Day Observance: BSA Scout Troop 112 will host a Memorial Day observance in honor of our fallen veterans Monday, May 27, at Mt. View Cemetery, located across from Ashland Fire and Rescue Station 2, on the south end of Ashland. The Ashland Brass Band will perform at 10:30 a.m. with the formal observance starting at 11 a.m. For further information call 408-839-8470.

Eagle Point National Cemetery: The Eagle Point National Cemetery, 2763 Riley Road, Eagle Point, will hold its annual memorial event at 11 a.m. Monday, May 27. The program includes U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and other guest speakers, rifle salute, live music, and a jet flyover. The cemetery is where many of the Rogue Valley’s military veterans are laid to rest. For further information, call 541-826-2511.