On Sept. 11, a Davidson County nonprofit organization will be holding a ceremony to dedicate a symbol of American pride on a day remembered for all those who lost their lives nine years ago.

Woodmen of the World, a fraternal benefit organization that was founded in 1890 and has lodges in both Denton and Lexington with nearly 750,000 members nationwide, is partnering with a Central Davidson High School Eagle Scout to dedicate a new flag pole and flag at the Davidson County Hospice Center on Sept. 11 at 10 a.m. The new Hospice center is located at 200 Hospice Way in Lexington, off of N.C. Highway 64, and all first responders are invited to attend.

“We’re the second largest purchasers of American flags,” Danny Soles, Davidson County field representative for Woodmen of the World, said. “I give American flags out to school houses, fire departments and other non-profits. Most of the flags you see around town, I’ve given them out.”

Eagle Scout Aaron Springer had a project of putting a flag pole up at the new Hospice center, but found out it would cost around $1,800, Soles said. Woodmen of the World came in and supplied the pole and the flag, helping Springer complete his project at no cost. Denton Lodge 976 and Lexington Lodge 1069 are sharing the cost of the pole and the flag. Boy Scout Troop 200 already dug the hole and a side company helped them stand the pole.

“We do an honor and remembrance program every year for 9/11,” said Soles. “All the lodges around will have stuff going on similar to this. We have a ceremony to recognize the first responders, not only of 9/11 but of today as well. It’s an annual thing for us.”

Woodmen of the World has lodges all over the United States and offers its members insurance, annuities, mutual funds and college savings plans. Members and other associates of the organization organize nationwide in other honor and remembrance ceremonies every year to give family and friends a chance to grieve over the lives lost on Sept. 11, 2001, and to pay respect to those who first responded to the scenes in New York and Washington D.C.

For more information about Woodmen of the World, visit www.woodmen.org.

Staff Writer Eliot Duke can be reached at 888-3578, or duke@tvilletimes.com.