Latest News – June 10

Celebrate the Red, White & Blue on Harrison Avenue!

Even though Flag Day isn’t officially until this Saturday, June 14, the replacement of a Harrison Ave. flag will hopefully inspire people to get out Old Glory and wave her proudly. It’s time to celebrate the red, white and blue!

Leadville Today readers may remember last September’s story (LINK) about the new flag hoisted up the 50 foot flag pole atop the Tabor Opera House in historic downtown Leadville. The new 10 x 15 foot banner was hard to miss and created a renewed sense of patriotism on main street.

A Leadville/Lake County firefighter untangles the cable from high atop the Tabor Opera House flagpole. Photo: Glen Carter/Leadville Today.

Unfortunately, Old Glory met up with Old Man Winter this year, and the huge flag was a bit worse for the wear by spring.  

“Sad news!” reported Tabor Opera House owner Sharon Bland on the venue’s Facebook page on April 28. “Our huge and beautiful flag fought through the winter, but March and April came in like a lion with winds that broke the cable.”

However, with feet of snow on the roof, it would be a while until the helpers were able to get to the pole for repairs. The flag had to be removed and replaced but first the tangled cable wire had to be straightened out.

Finally, last Saturday, June 7 a core group of citizens rallied once again and got the job done. And it was the Leadville/Lake County Fire Department to the rescue for the most delicate part of the task. The fire rescue team turned the repair into a training exercise, extending their ladder truck to its very end to reach the top of the flag pole.

The Leadville/Lake County Fire Rescue crew assisted in getting Old Glory back on the flag pole atop the historic Tabor Opera House. Photo: Glen Carter/Leadville Today

“We couldn’t have done it without them,” explained Tabor Opera House owner Bill Bland. “No one else could have reached the top of the flag pole to get the cable untangled.”

Great job! The Thank You list also includes – among others – Leadville VFW Post No. 859 – who donated the flag, Donny and Deb Miller, Sharon and Bill Bland, Heather Kovalaski, Manager at True Value – who donated the new cable. and of course, the Leadville/Lake County Fire Rescue. Three cheers for the red, white & blue!

Celebrate Flag Day at the Opera House on Saturday

If you’re interested in hearing the entire story about the Tabor Opera House flag from owner Bill Bland, be sure to attend the FREE Concert this Saturday, Flag Day. There will be a power point presentation about restoring Old Glory to the flagpole prior to the FREE concert by the 101st Army Band.  The show starts at 7:30 p.m.

And you might consider making a night of it, by adding on one of the opera house’s VIP Dinner Packages available with prime reserved seats. Of course there is a charge for dinner, but the concert is free.