Restoring patriotism; Locals put flags back on Howe Street bridge

Dottie Avery, left, secretary at Methuen's Veterans office, and Army PFC Sabrina Martin, finish hanging American flags on Carl Woekel Memorial Bridge along with Jim Wareing, Andy Jimenez and others after the governor reversed MassHighway's decision to take down the flags because of safety reasons. Angie Beaulieu/Staff Photo

Eagle Tribune

By Stephanie Chelf-Staff Reporter

METHUEN - Using American flags and yellow ribbons, Army Pfc. Sabrina Martin and the city's Veterans Affairs secretary Dottie Avery decorated the bridge overlooking Route 213 in honor of local soldiers.

One by one, the two women covered a side of the bridge by crisscrossing a series of flags and tying a yellow ribbon around each. The flags and ribbons were tightly secured on the inside of the chain-link fence.

As they worked their way across the bridge, drivers waved, honked their car horns, and yelled out in support.

On the other side, a tearful Andy Jimenez helped Jim Sereigo-Wareing hang up a POW/MIA flag and banner in honor of 25-year-old Army Spc. Alex Jimenez, who has been missing in Iraq since May. Yesterday was the seventh-month anniversary of Alex's kidnapping.

The flags on the Carl Woekel Memorial Bridge remind people of the sacrifice of U.S. troops. Sereigo-Wareing says the flags give Andy Jimenez hope that he will one day see his son again.

Sereigo-Wareing, known locally as the flag man for his six-year-long effort to honor troops by decorating bridges, took down some of the flags last week after an order by the state Highway Department. MassHighway say the flags pose a safety hazard to drivers below.

But after reports in The Eagle-Tribune, Gov. Deval Patrick reversed the ban and said flags could stay for now. He appointed a committee of highway and veterans officials to come up with an alternative to honor troops in public places.

Yesterday, flags went back up.

"The flags mean everything to me," said Martin of Methuen. "It shows everyone cares. I want people to support us. It makes me happy to see stuff like this."

Kristen Begin of Methuen drives over the Howe Street bridge every day. It has even more meaning for her because her daughter Jaime Lee just left for the Middle East. Jaime Lee Begin will be on a Navy ship as an airman apprentice, her mother said.

Begin thanked Sereigo-Wareing for his commitment to military personnel.

"It has a huge impact. I didn't realize it until my daughter joined the military," Begin said, adding that her younger daughter, Brianne, a Methuen High School junior, has signed up for JROTC. "Jim does it in a tasteful way. It's such a positive thing. It's important for soldiers to see we support them, regardless of what our politics are."

Sereigo-Wareing spoke briefly before hanging up the flags with Jimenez. He thanked the governor for permitting the flags on the bridges.

"Nothing can replace a handmade banner with a personal message to a soldier and his or her family spelling out our appreciation and gratitude because that soldier laid down his or her life for our freedom," Sereigo-Wareing said. "Nothing speaks louder or gives more hope to a POW/MIA family than a display or banner with words demonstrating that a larger community stands with them every day."