Matt Davis, Eagle Scout from Owasso resurrects a flag pole at the Barnsdall Library that has not flown a flag in over 50 years.
The project who include removing years of rust and decay from the old pole.
“This article is part of the People Helping People campaign created by Arvest Bank.”
One day last May, Rob Davis from Davis PC Help in Owasso headed to a job at the Barnsdall Library. His son Mathew Davis came along for the ride.
Matt and Scouts from Owasso’s Troop 18 work on flag pole resurrection
Earlier that month, Matt’s stepmother, Birdie was having lunch with the Barnsdall Librarian, Cecilia Hibdon, who happened to ask if they had any weekend plans. Birdie causally mentioned they were going to a state park so Matt could discuss an Eagle Scout project idea with the park ranger. Ms. Hibdon mentioned to Birdie that Matt might be interested in doing a project at the Ethel Briggs Memorial Library in Barnsdall, as she had several things that needed to be done.
When Rob and Matt arrived at the library that day, Matt, who has been in scouting since the first grade, spoke to Ms. Hibdon about what she was wanting or needing. “I have always wanted a flag to fly on the pole we have” she said. She showed him the pole, which had not flown a flag since the 60’s. It was rusted, had no cables plus needed a flag to fly on it. Matt looked the pole over and took it on as his project.
Work Day Progress
Matt made a plan for what it would take to bring the pole back to life. As it was very near power lines that are dangerous for scouts he spoke with the fire department next door to see if they could be of help take it down. As the project progressed it was evident that the pole would need a lot more attention than first thought. Matt and the fire department determined that bucket trucks would need to be used. Ms Hibdon called her contacts at PSO, who agreed to take the pole down, and help put it back up again.
Matt Proudly Raises the flag on his finished project
During the wait time for the pole to be brought down, Matt went around the city of Barnsdall, asking to leave donation fliers at local businesses. Businesses agreed, and some offered to donate the flowers for around the pole, and another would give a discount on pizza on the actual work day. Matt left a donation jar under the care of the librarian.
Matt also asked businesses in Owasso for assistance. Sherman-Williams provided the paint for the pole. Home Depot provided the safety supplies. Cash donations paid for the rest of the items as needed such as a Flag, steel cable for the “rope”, hooks, lights, garden bricks and potting soil.
Matt had a team from Owasso’s Troop 18 out of First Presbyterian Church who joined him in Barnsdall for his work day. They sanded, painted and re-cabled the flag pole. PSO was unable to come out this work day to re-lift the pole, so Matt planned another trip back to the library.
When Matt returned he added some finishing touches to the now upright pole, which included planting flowers, and of course, raising the flag in front of the library, for the first time in over fifty years.
“This article is part of the People Helping People campaign created by Arvest Bank.”
The Barnsdall Library posted these comments to their Facebook page about the new flag pole:
Sometimes good things just happen! One day in May when the library’s computer consultant Rob Davis
came to Barnsdall to repair some problems we were having he brought his son Matt. In a conversation with Matt I found out he was a candidate for Eagle Scout and was looking for a project. He asked if there was anything we needed at the library. I have always wanted the American flag to fly on the pole we have, but it needed painted, there was no cable, and last but not least we don’t have a flag. Matt looked the pole over and took it on as his project. He planned how to get the pole down and then back up (thank you PSO) he decided on what color and what kind of paint (thank you Sherwin Williams of Owasso) he decided to build a flower bed with flowers around the pole (thank you Barnsdall Flower Shop) he asked for donations to buy the supplies (thank you to everyone who gave money) he organized and brought his fellow troop members to Barnsdall to help him do the work (thank you Owasso Troop 18). Today he came back to town to raise the flag for the first time in years by the Barnsdall Public Library. Thank you Matthew Davis on a job well done.
.
