Mike Wilson places a flag on Monday, May 29 for the annual Avenue of Flags at Mount Hope Cemetery.

As the volunteers scan the cemetery looking for more spots to place flags, someone finally turns to Doug Riggs.

“Doug knows” echoes from the group, and Riggs starts naming roads in Mount Hope Cemetery and pointing to places that might still have room for an American flag.

This is the scene every Memorial Day when volunteers gather at 6 a.m. to create the Avenue of Flags by placing approximately 450 flags that each bears the name of a deceased veteran.

The project, however, begins well before the holiday.

“I started two weeks ago marking the holes,” Riggs said. “Sometimes it takes awhile to find them.”

The holes are made from pipe secured in a piece of concrete located a few feet from the road. Grass often obscures the location, so Riggs uses a piece of metal to poke around until he locates each one.

Then he marks the location with a slash of white spray paint on the road, and digs out each hole with the help of the Baker County Juvenile Department.

“I take an auger and get the dirt out,” Riggs said. “I’ve dug every one out at one time or another.”

Then, on the Saturday before Memorial Day, he and several volunteers place thousands of small flags on the graves of Elks members and veterans whose headstone is marked with a military designation.

If any are missed, the family can get a flag.

“I do put a bucket of flags at the office for anyone to pick up,” he said.

About 20 volunteers showed up Monday morning to load the large flags into pickups and then head out to find the white marks along the roads. Flags are also placed on the fence along South Bridge Street.

The flags are gathered around 5 p.m. on Memorial Day and placed back in storage.

The Avenue of Flags is a nonprofit organization that includes the Elks Lodge, VFW, American Legion, Eagles Club “and any community members who want to volunteer,” Riggs said.

At first, he said the flags were a project of the VFW and American Legion.

“They didn’t have enough help,” Riggs said.

The veterans organizations approached the Elks to assist, and the nonprofit Avenue of Flags was formed about 15 years ago. Riggs is the president, Jerry Hunter is the vice president and Debby Ray is the secretary/treasurer.

In addition to placing the flags, each organization takes turns hosting a lunch after the Memorial Day service for veterans, those who attend the event and the volunteers who help with the Avenue of Flags. This year’s meal was provided at the Elks Lodge.

As for the flag project, Riggs said some maintenance is needed on the holes — some of the concrete has sunk or is sitting at an odd angle. He said the group would like to repair these so all the flags display the same — but that takes volunteers and funds.

When a family donates a flag, a $25 donation is requested. Anyone who would like to support the Avenue of Flags can make a donation to the account at Old West Federal Credit Union or at the Elks Lodge, 1896 Second St.

For information on how to help, contact Riggs through the Elks, 541-523-3338.

Or, just remember the Avenue of Flags on the next Memorial Day, starting at 6 a.m.

“Just show up,” Riggs said.