Representatives from Victory Electric and the Co-ops Care Charity Golf Tournament presented a check for $8,069.19 to the Dodge City Veterans Council/Avenue of Flags at their annual Veterans Day service on Wednesday, November 11, at Maple Grove Cemetery. The funds donated were proceeds from the second annual Co-ops Care Charity Golf Tournament, co-hosted by Victory Electric and Wheatland Electric Cooperatives in August.
“Giving back to the community is what cooperatives do,” said Jerri Whitley, Victory Electric vice president of communications. “We couldn’t be more happy to be a part of supporting our local veterans and their families as well as to help build and support strong, happy and healthy communities for our members.”
The Dodge City Veterans Council is made up of three veteran’s organizations; the Dodge City Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American G.I. Forum, and American Legion. The council promotes patriotism and pride; aids less-fortunate veterans and their dependents; promotes harmony among member organization; and observes designated national holidays to honor veterans. The Dodge City Veterans Council also manages Avenue of Flags, which organizes and conducts annual events honoring veterans at Maple Grove Cemetery in Dodge City. In addition, the organization maintains the flagpoles at the cemetery, each of which is dedicated in memory of a veteran. Avenue of Flags is raising funds to purchase and install additional flagpoles and flags for a newly planned cemetery road, to be named Bob Hughes Boulevard. The road, which recognizes Hughes’ many years of volunteer service to the organization, will require many additional flagpoles and flags to grace the boulevard. Bob Hughes was also a retired Victory Electric lineman. During his time at Victory Electric and after his retirement in 2009, Hughes served as the chairman of Avenue of Flags.
Furthermore, the donated funds will also help Avenue of Flags develop and purchase a computerized flag pole identification system and equipment aimed at helping visitors identify the specific location(s) of flag poles and plaques dedicated to veterans; purchase and replace local area veteran’s organizations’ Honor Guard uniforms used when performing at veteran funerals; purchase a storage shed to house and protect council property; and assist with the maintenance of flags, flag poles and council equipment.
“We want to thank Victory Electric for their generosity as well as the individuals, businesses and organizations who either sponsored, donated or participated in the charity golf tournament,” said Allen Burkhart, president of Avenue of Flags. “It’s clear this is a community that cares about our veterans and donations like these help us continue to honor our veteran heroes who graciously served our country.”
The 18-hole, four-man scramble Co-ops Care charity Golf Tournament hosted 31 teams at Mariah Hills in Dodge City on August 28, 2020. The event kicked-off with a welcome from the CEOs of Victory Electric and Wheatland Electric followed by a short ceremony presented by the Avenue of Flags Color Guard. Throughout the day, golfers had the opportunity to participate in many activities, contests and games, which was followed by cash prize awards and many great door prizes donated by tournament sponsors. In addition to the Dodge City Veterans Council/Avenue of Flags, proceeds from the charity golf tournament also benefited Wheatland Electric Cooperative’s Cram the Van food drive.
“Avenue of Flags is a great organization who supports and honors those who served our country and fought for our freedom,” said Kyndell Penick. Victory Electric manager of key accounts. “We were thankful and honored to have great support from tournament sponsors and many others to help Avenue of Flags fulfil their mission of honoring veterans.”
The Victory Electric Cooperative Assn., Inc., a member-owned electric distribution cooperative, is headquartered in Dodge City and serves all or parts of nine counties in southwest Kansas. Victory Electric was organized in 1945 to serve primarily farm residential services. Through the years, Victory has expanded to a broad consumer base of diversified loads ranging from industrial, commercial and irrigation loads with more than 3,100 miles of transmission and distribution line. For more information, visit Victory Electric’s website at victoryelectric.net or Facebook, Twitter and YouTube social media pages.