Youths' flag campaign a success

SANDPOINT — Darby and Olen Neu have good eyes and patriotic hearts.

The two Bonner County students noticed U.S. flags at Sandpoint Middle School were aging and faded so they resolved to do something about it.

The siblings launched a well-received gofundme.com account and paired that with shoe leather fundraising.

“We had a ton of donations come in $900 — in the first four days,” Darby Neu, a SMS student, said of the online fundraising effort.

The duo also had a requirement that the banners had to be manufactured in the U.S. so they turned to Cornel Rasor at Army Surplus 1 to obtain the flags.

Originally, $900 was needed to replace 35 of the middle school’s flags, but they ended raising $1,400.

“We’re going to be donating to other schools,” said Olen Neu, a Sagle Elementary School student.

During their Made in America campaign, the Neus met with Bonner County commissioners to explain their project.

“It’s admirable,” Commissioner Glen Bailey said.

The new flags were installed prior to Veterans Day and the old flags were taken by Olen Neu’s Boy Scout Troop No. 308 for proper retirement.

The final leg of the campaign involves a flag obtained by state Sen. Shawn Keough that flew over the nation’s capitol. It’s slated to be presented to SMS soon.

Project supporters include Travis Icardo, Travis Mire, Rod Star, Mike Gordon, C21 Riverstone, Joe Mire, Sandpoint Crossfit, Whitney Pappas, Terry McGuirk, Ryan Skinner, Eron Singleton, Brett Fields, Kyler Wolf, Dan McLaughlin, Debbie Ferguson, Emily Strizich, Mahle Williams, Lissa Markwardt, Lorraine Cosgrove, Cary Kelly, Darcy and Austin Smith, Kayla, Nathan and William Dotson, Jude and Aiden Ackerman, Gary Lirette and other anonymous donors.