A new flag flies high at City Park in memory of those who served to keep the United States free and a young man whose life ended tragically nearly six years ago.
Family and friends of the late Caleb Coleman gathered in the park Wednesday for a ceremony as the new flag was raised. Earl Lane Turnage, Columbia’s director of streets, parks and cemeteries, thanked the Coleman family and then led a prayer. Bracey DiGiovanni, James Ragan, Dalton Chambliss and Logan Stephens of Boy Scouts Troop 97 in Oak Grove lowered the tattered old flag as Mark Rogers played “Taps” on the trumpet. Stephens is the troop’s junior assistant scoutmaster and DiGiovanni and James are students at Columbia Academy, where the late Coleman was a student. As the flag was raised, Ian Pittman played the National Anthem on violin and the Boy Scouts saluted.
Coleman, the son of Becky and Kent Coleman and a Cougar football player and cross country runner, was killed in an automobile accident in November 2011, not long after the CA cross country team won a state title. Each year, the Coleman family hosts the Running with Caleb 5K to raise money for scholarships at Columbia Academy. During this year’s race, Kent Coleman noticed that the flag in City Park was tattered.
“We were here in the park and Kent noticed and said, ‘We need a new flag. I think we ought to get one and put it in memory of Caleb,’” Becky Coleman said. “Caleb used to come and play at the park and we do the runs in the park. We just thought this would be a good thing to do in memory of him and it would honor the people in time for July 4.”
Becky Coleman said the flag was dedicated to those who had helped preserve the country’s freedoms and that Wednesday was an appropriate time to dedicate them.
“It was our intention to do it now to make it really special,” she concluded. “We’re so thankful for everyone who participated. Earl (Turnage) gave a beautiful invocation and we’re so happy that he and Mayor (elect) Justin McKenzie came out. Earl got everything cleaned up and mowed in the park and we are thankful that people came out to be a part of this. We hope it will be an asset to the City Park and to the people of Columbia.”
Pictured Above: Members of Boy Scouts Troop 97 unfurl a new flag dedicated in honor of Caleb Coleman. | Photo by Mark Rogers
