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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Flags are flying at Holman Gardens


Ilabelle Alderson poses for a portrait next to an American flag  in front of her residence at the Holman Gardens.
 (Ingrid Lindemann / The Spokesman-Review)
Maggie Capwell Staff writer

Holman Gardens Retirement Community got a patriotic makeover for Memorial Day.

Thanks to the influence of Ilabelle Alderson, a three-year resident of Holman Gardens, more than 50 U.S. flags can now be seen waving from balconies, poles and patios throughout the community.

“They call me a flag lady,” said Alderson, who received no reimbursement for the flags that she bought and distributed to her neighbors.

Alderson comes from a military family. Her son is retired from the Navy, and her husband, Marcus Alderson, was in the Air Force for 28 years, and was stationed in England, Spain and various locations within the United States throughout his career. Alderson’s favorite part of returning to the U.S. after being stationed abroad with her husband was the sight of the American flags waving.

When Alderson moved into Holman Gardens, “Occasionally you might have seen a flag, but not often,” she said. Prior to moving to Holman Gardens, Alderson had always flown a flag as a statement of pride and as support for American troops, but had to leave it behind when she left her house and relocated to her apartment in the retirement community.

“I’ve been working on the flag project all year,” Alderson said. This involved going door to door offering flags and assistance putting them up, if necessary, and speaking up in the dining room to urge putting up more flags.

Once a few flags started going up, the manager at Holman Gardens began putting in small poles so that the flags could be flown properly instead of being hung from railings. The largest flags are 4 feet by 6 feet, but many other sizes are also evident.

Alderson obtained the first batch of large flags in Bremerton while visiting a friend. When she returned to Holman Gardens, she gave out about six flags to some of her neighbors.

Immediately, there were requests for more from other residents of the community. Alderson wrote her friend and asked to send more flags. The project has only grown since then.

Because of Alderson’s persistence in achieving her goal, the community is a veritable sea of red, white and blue.

“I hope someday we could have everyone with flags in flag holders,” Alderson said.

Alderson also helped decorate the dining room for Memorial Day by putting flags on every table.

Alderson is determined to get as many flags flying as possible. She visits current residents of Holman Gardens who don’t have flags asking if they want one. When a new resident moves in, Alderson is there knocking at the door to offer a flag.