The Newcastle Board of Selectmen presented the town’s Spirit of America Award to volunteer fundraiser Richard McFarland Monday, Sept. 22.
McFarland raised money to buy dozens of American flags and flagpoles, plus liability insurance; then organized a volunteer effort to hang the flags on Main Street utility poles in the Twin Villages of Damariscotta and Newcastle at no cost to the towns.
McFarland also handles most maintenance himself, with assistance from the staff of local utility Tidewater Telecom Inc. when necessary.
McFarland “is hereby recognized for his great achievements and honors that he has brought upon this community,” the selectmen said in a resolution.
The nonprofit Spirit of America Foundation encourages municipalities to present the awards to honor individuals, organizations, and projects for commendable community service.
Recent recipients in Newcastle include Lincoln County Television in 2012 and The Community Energy Fund of Lincoln County in 2013.
McFarland now plans to raise funds to expand the project in Damariscotta and Newcastle and bring the flags to his hometown of Nobleboro.
The flags in Newcastle currently stop at the intersection of Main Street with Academy Hill Road and Mills Road.
McFarland wants to extend the flags along the remainder of Main Street and the Route 1 on-ramp. He also wants to hang flags on River Road from Main Street to the Newcastle Fire Department.
Across the bridge in Damariscotta, the flags extend along Main Street to The American Legion Wells-Hussey Post No. 42.
Next year, McFarland wants to extend the flags the entire length of Main Street to Route 1 and east on Biscay Road to the Damariscotta Fire Department.
McFarland also plans to work with the towns to design and install flags for the Damariscotta and Newcastle fire departments, the Damariscotta Police Department, and the towns themselves.
The Damariscotta and Newcastle Boards of Selectmen unanimously approved McFarland’s plans at their respective meetings Sept. 17 and 22.
The existing flags will come down after the Damariscotta Pumpkinfest, instead of the original date of Veterans Day, due to concerns about Halloween vandalism, McFarland said.
