WILTON — Eighty American flags will fly above the streets of Wilton, East Wilton and East Dixfield from May to November, thanks to donations pouring in for a project celebrating community patriotism.

It started as a community service project for members of the Wilton Day Extension Homemakers, but attracted the support of Wilton residents and businesses, Extension member Hazel Flagg said. From September through November, more than $2,000 was raised for the project.

“We were flabbergasted. Money kept pouring in, with some purchasing a flag for $50 while others gave $5 or $10. A lot of people showed a lot of interest,” she said.

During a meeting last spring, Flagg suggested the Flags on Main Street in Wilton project, a few flags to adorn poles along the town’s Main Street. The group then took a break over the summer. They knew the project was not something they could do by themselves, but come Sept. 1 they set out to see what they could do, she said.

With help from Town Manager Rhonda Irish, who agreed to accept and deposit donations at the town office, the group sent letters to local businesses, groups and organizations, she said. They also held a craft fair in November, raising $500 to combine with $1,500 raised from donations. The group is making a request to the Modern Woodmen of America for matching funds for the $2,000 they raised with the potential to maybe double the amount, she said.

Eighty poles have been chosen from Rick’s Market to Woodland Avenue on Route 156 and on Main Street from the fire station to the blinking light at the intersection of Route 2 and Maxwell Road.

In East Wilton, flags will go on poles from the Sweden House to the intersection with routes 2 and 4 near the dentists’ offices, and in East Dixfield on Route 2 from the fire station to Osgood’s garage, she said.

Some people have given donations to purchase a flag to honor or be  in memory of an individual or veteran in their lives, she said.

Donations are still being accepted. Extra funds will help extend flags on to other streets and replace flags as needed. The flags will be put up before Memorial Day next May and taken down after Veterans Day, she said. The group is hoping to involve the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts in placing the flags, she said.

The group has collection containers in local shops, such as Rick’s Market, Shelly’s Hometown Market and Food City, as well as at the town office. Checks may also be sent to the Town of Wilton, Flag Fund, 158 Weld Road, Wilton, ME 04294.

The whole extension group is working on the project, she said. There are 16 members who meet once a month at St. Luke’s Church. They do a project and have a potluck lunch, she said. The group will meet Jan. 12 to work on a nature craft.

Donations have been received from attorney Ronald G. Aseltine; Blodgett Builders LLC; Wilton Academy Class of 1961; Rick’s Market; Norm’s Redemption; Taylor Made Homes, Inc.; Nancy’s Beauty Salon; Norman and Leona Leavitt; Norman Macomber in memory of Marilyn Tutty Macomber; Shelly’s Hometown Market; Mystic Valley Grange II 313 in honor of the East Dixfield Fire Department; R.S. Osgood & Sons; John and Faye Shaw; Pine Tree Lassie’s Red Hat Group of Wilton; Robert and Collette DeSotto; Charles and Juanita Crafts in memory of Philip Walters, World War II veteran, and Arnold Brooks, Korean War veteran; Wilton Blueberry Festival in memory of Wilton veterans; Barbara Vining in memory of Quentin Vining, World War I veteran; Cousineau Properties; Shannon and Albert Smith in memory of Wilton veterans; Terry and Sherrill Brann in memory of Lauriston Brann, veteran, and in honor of Bruce Brann, veteran; Harland Clemens, Hazel Clemens Flagg, Kathy Clemens Goulette and Lillian Clemens, all in memory of John T. Clemens Jr; Kathy Clemens Goulette and Lillian Clemens, in memory of Harvey Sabin; Wilson Grange No. 321; and Julie Dudevoir-Badger, DDS, and Patricia Ridley, in memory of Arthur Ridley, veteran of the U.S. Air Force.

[email protected]