Pembroke’s downtown display of American flags fluttering atop white crosses bearing the names of local veterans has been around on patriotic holidays for decades, and it’s been a favorite of residents and motorists who drive through the city.

But it doesn’t come without a cost. Or hard work from volunteers, who on Saturday morning included Greg Aksdal, Nani and Marvin Miller, Scott Zepplin, Ron Kinder, Ernest Mitchell, and Benny and Marsha Clark from the John Duggar American Legion Post 165 in Pembroke. They’ll meet again next Saturday, and the next, to ready the display for Veterans Day in November.

But therein lies a rub. Recently, the Pembroke American Legion Flag Committee took over managing the display and discovered there were no records regarding some of the veterans or who their sponsors were. What’s more, the cost of replacing worn flags has begun to eat into the group’s “meager funds,” which in turn has led to the request of a $10 fee from those who sponsored veterans to help cover the cost. But without records, organizers have “no idea who represented the veteran,” so they’re “requesting help to match the veteran with a family member, or to ‘adopt’ a veteran,” according to Amy Barnes, who noted the group is responsible now for 197 flags and crosses. Of those, only 57 have been contacted and billed,32 have paid and six have been adopted, organizers said.

“We extend our appreciation to the businesses and individuals who have already donated,” said Barnes, in an email, but more help is needed. For more information, contact the committee at its Facebook page, Pembroke Flags. Or email Barnes at firechic75@comcast.net.

Editor’s note: Whitten is a member of Post 164