Flags for Heroes 2026
Honoring Our Heroes. Strengthening Our Community.

Now in its third year, Flags for Heroes has grown into one of Durham's most visible community traditions. Each year, the Rotary Club of Durham installs hundreds of ten-foot American flags at Hub RTP. Every flag is dedicated to someone who has served, taught, protected, or simply made a difference in the lives of the people around them.

HOW FLAGS FOR HEROES WORKS

American flags with "Flags for Heroes" text, defining a hero, and Rotary Club of Durham logo.

Each sponsored flag includes a medallion tag bearing the name of the person being honored and the sponsor who chose to recognize them.

Veterans, first responders, educators, healthcare workers, family members. Anyone who has touched your life can be honored through the display.
After the display closes, the personalized medallion tag is yours to keep as a lasting memento of your tribute.

The flags stand as a public declaration: this person mattered.

Because of the community that gathers behind this program, the display does something else as well. Proceeds from flag sponsorships fund grants awarded by the Rotary Club of Durham to local nonprofits serving our community.


In 2025, that support totaled $42,621, more than double the program's first year.

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2025 BENEFICIARIES

Your support of Flags For Heroes goes beyond honoring our community's heroes, it creates lasting change in their lives. Last year's event enabled us to support these vital programs in our community. Here are some examples of how your generous flag sponsorships made a difference. The beneficiaries below used grant funding to strengthen their programs and enhance their service to our community.

  • The Durham VA Hospital (Homeless Program) ($5,000)

    Ed Pikaart (Rotary Foundation Chair) and Michael Bishop-Salyer (Vocational Development Specialist)

  • Representatives of Thomas Mentor Leadership Academy in Durham, NC

    Thomas Mentor Leadership Academy ($2,500)

    Larry E. Thomas (CEO), Ed Pikaart (Rotary Foundation Chair) and Larry E. Campbell (Chairman)

  • The Veteran’s Law Clinic at NCCU ($2,500)

    Ed Pikaart (Rotary Foundation Chair) and Stephen Valentine (Director)

  • Vets to Vets United, Inc. ($2,500)

    Ed Pikaart (Rotary Foundation Chair) and Dr. Terry Morris, D.V.M., Ph.D. (Founder & Executive Director)

  • Weaver McLean American Legion Post #175 ($2,500)

    Ed Pikaart (Rotary Foundation Chair) and Commander Adrienne Sutton

Key dates

  • Flag Installation

    May 16-17, 2026

  • Donations Close

    May 29, 2026

  • Display Period

    May 18 - June 14, 2026

  • Flag Day Ceremony

    June 13, 2026

ABOUT ROTARY CLUB OF DURHAM

Durham North Carolina Skyline

The Rotary Club of Durham has long been a cornerstone of community service in the region, guided by Rotary International's motto of Service Above Self.

Its members, local business and professional leaders, work to create lasting change in Durham and beyond through scholarships, veteran support programs, youth leadership development, and community initiatives.

Flags for Heroes is one of those initiatives. It began in 2024 with 600 flags and a community that showed up. It has grown every year since.

our location partner

Logo with large letters "HUB" in blue, red, and purple next to stylized text "RUP" in blue and red.

A special acknowledgment goes to our partner, Hub RTP. Their extraordinary commitment to our Flags For Heroes initiative demonstrates their dedication to honoring our community's heroes.

Hub RTP has been home to Flags for Heroes since the first display. Their commitment to hosting the installation at Research Triangle Park gives the program a setting that matches its scale: open, visible, and welcoming to the community.

We are grateful for their continued partnership.

OUR MEDIA SPONSOR

ABC11, the Triangle's ABC-owned television station, partnered as the official media sponsor for the Rotary Club of Durham's inaugural Flags For Heroes event in 2024.

ABC11 has supported Flags for Heroes, helping share coverage of the display, the Flag Raising Ceremony, and Flag Day events across the region.

Their support has played an important role in helping the community discover and participate in Flags for Heroes.

Our CONTINUED Success

In 2025, our second first Flags For Heroes event exceeded all expectations, creating an unforgettable display at Hub RTP. Each year, the installation creates a powerful visual tribute that touches countless visitors and honored hundreds of local heroes.

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American flags displayed outdoors in rows, waving in the breeze.
A-frame sign with Rotary International logo
A man playing a bugle adorned with an American flag outdoors.
A group of people, including a man in a gray suit and others in various attire, interact outdoors on a sunny day.
Outdoor event with seated audience and speakers on stage in front of a modern building, clear blue sky above.
Multiple American flags on poles in a grassy area with trees in the background.
Man in a suit speaking at a podium with a Rotary International logo, outdoors.
Outdoor event with seated audience, speakers on stage, American flags, and a Rotary International banner.
Black service dog wearing a vest with patches, walking on grass, led by a person.
Man in a blue suit speaking at a podium with a microphone, wearing sunglasses, and standing next to a sign with a Rotary emblem.
Man in a suit speaking into a microphone outdoors
Multiple American flags on poles, waving in the wind with trees in the background.
Person in glasses speaking into a microphone at a podium outdoors.
Man speaking at a podium outdoors with Rotary International logo.
A person speaking into a microphone at a podium with a blue and yellow emblem.
Two men in suits standing near a podium with a Rotary International logo at an outdoor event, with a microphone visible.
A man in a suit speaking at a podium with a Rotary International logo, outdoors, with trees in the background and seated audience members.
Woman in white blazer speaking at a podium with a microphone
A woman holding "Flags for Heroes" brochure at an outdoor event with people in background.
Outdoor gathering with people seated in front of a black building, blue sky
A woman with long black hair and red glasses is speaking into a microphone at a podium with a blue emblem. She is wearing a black blazer and standing near a window, with part of a rolling suitcase visible.
A group of people sitting on chairs in a row outdoors at a formal event, with two banners labeled "HUD" in the background.
A man in a suit speaking outdoors while holding papers and glasses.
A man speaking at a podium with the Rotary International logo, surrounded by seated people.
Man in a blue suit speaking into a microphone at a podium outdoors.
Man in a white polo shirt speaking into a microphone at a podium outdoor event.
A woman speaking at a podium with Rotary International logo, holding a microphone, wearing red glasses.
Outdoor event with a speaker at a podium addressing a seated audience on a stage next to a modern building, with several flags in the background.
A person speaking at a podium with a Rotary International logo, in front of a HUB RTP banner and building visuals.
A man plays the trumpet next to a group of people, including a woman holding an American flag, at a Rotary Club event.
A woman speaking at an outdoor event podium
Man in suit speaking at a podium outdoors
Person speaking at a podium with Rotary International logo, American flag in foreground, and HUD banner in background.
A man in a suit speaking at a podium with a Rotary International logo.
A man in a suit speaking at a podium with a Rotary International logo.
Person speaking into a microphone at an outdoor event, standing near a podium with the Rotary International symbol. They are wearing a green outfit and sunglasses.
Person speaking at a podium with Rotary International emblem, wearing sunglasses and a blue checkered blazer.
A woman speaking at a podium with a Rotary International logo in front.
Outdoor event with people seated on a stage platform in front of a modern building, flags in the background, clear sky.
A man wearing a gray suit and blue tie plays a trumpet in an outdoor setting. He's holding a small American flag near the instrument. In the background, numerous American flags are displayed in a grassy area, and trees are visible.
Man in suit speaking at an outdoor event with a microphone.
Man playing a bugle on stage with an American flag, microphone, and Rotary International banner in the background.
Outdoor event with people seated in rows on a lawn, surrounded by American flags, with a speaker on a wooden stage under a clear blue sky.
A man playing a bugle with an American flag in outdoor setting.
Woman speaking at a podium with Rotary International logo
Outdoor event with speaker addressing audience seated on chairs near a modern building under a clear blue sky.
A man in a suit playing a trumpet adorned with an American flag, standing in front of several people at an outdoor event.
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