Old Glory will forever fly high to welcome residents and visitors to the Village of Hillman. Glen and Sharon Reed are determined to make sure of it.
“The sight of the American flag blowing in the wind has always warmed our hearts, especially on our many road trips through the U.S.,” said Glen Reed* of Hillman, Michigan. “We always felt it was an awesome sight to see.”
An Army veteran himself, Glen also has three brothers who served in WWII, a brother-in-law who served in the Korean War, two grandsons in the Marines, and two nephews in the military as well.
Several years ago, Glen and his wife, Sharon, learned through their local Lions Club that a new flag was needed for Hillman. Since no local organizations had the funds to purchase or maintain one, the couple took it upon themselves to take on the cause.
“Keeping the flag flying just seemed like something we wanted to do,” said Sharon Reed. “Then the idea came to establish a fund to make sure it would always be flown in Hillman; and that’s when we connected with the Community Foundation for Northeast Michigan (CFNEM).”
Glen and Sharon, who have called Hillman home since 1999, worked closely with CFNEM to set up the fund so it would support their favorite cause exactly the way they wanted. From there, the Hillman American Flag Fund was created. With the Village of Hillman agreeing to provide the work necessary for ordering flags and maintaining the flag pole site, this fund will provide all of the necessary funding to cover those expenses, forever.
“We were blessed to be in a position to make sure the flag would always be flown, and we’re proud to do that,” said Glen. “Somewhere down the road, it’s our dream that a monument can be erected at the flag pole site, displaying the names of all past and present Hillman residents who have served the U.S. This fund might someday finance that dream.”
When the Hillman American Flag Fund reaches a point where there is extra money available after covering the flag expenses, leftover funding will be given to Shriners Hospital to support care for children with cleft palates, another worthwhile cause.
The Reeds say children have always been dear to their hearts. They have five children and ten grandchildren who were all born healthy, and are doing well.
“Knowing that some people are not so lucky prompted us to do what we can to help,” said Sharon. “The Shriners Hospital is doing a lot to help those families.”
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*Glen Reed passed away in June 2020.