BY RITA COOK / Freelance Writer
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OVILLA – Memorial Day is just around the corner, and Place 3 Ovilla City Councilmember David Griffin is busy not only asking people to re-elect him for Place 3 councilmember on May 3, but also reminding them to order their yard flags for the upcoming Memorial Day holiday.
Griffin has been part of the flag program, which is a service by the Red Oak Lodge #461, since 2012.
“We put out the flags and pick them up for seven patriotic holidays each year,” Griffin said.
“The cost is a one-time yearly charge of $40/flag for one flag and $35/flag for five flags or more.”
The flag program began in 2011, and the following year was when Griffin got involved.
Griffin distributes about 155 flags each year on his route around Ovilla with a few going into Midlothian rural areas too.
Overall, the flag program in Ellis County puts out over 600 flags around Red Oak, Oak Leaf, and Ovilla with a few in Midlothian.
The program was started by Danny Douthit and Billy Ray Dickey – both deceased now – as a fund raiser to raise funds to give scholarships to Red Oak High School graduating seniors.
That scholarship deadline is coming up too and Griffin said they take applications each year for the scholarships.
The committee selects the scholarship winners based on scholastic record, community service, financial need, and others.
Griffin has served on the Ovilla City Council for 14 years and prior to that sat on the Ovilla Board of Adjustments for 18 years.
His patriotism has also extended to other areas in the city as he was the idea originator for the Veterans Memorial in which money was raised and the memorial became a reality.
He was also the idea originator for the pavilion recently constructed in the park behind City Hall.
“From the time of idea, it took 10 years to see the dream come true,” Griffin said.
“We had to wait that long until funds were available but Mayor Richard Dormier helped push the idea for that with me until we finally did it.”
