MAY 7, 2009 ISSUE
Flag Flies Over Capitol for Boone Resident Sonja West
Sonja West of Boone showing the flag that flew over the United States Capitol on her 55th birthday on April 3. Her mother, Jonnie West, arranged through the office of Rep. Virginia Foxx for the surprise birthday present. Jonnie’s inspiration came from a friend.
Sonja received a congratulatory letter on her birthday from Foxx informing her about her mother’s gift. Sonya received the flag last week. She also received a certificate with the signature of the acting architect of the Capitol authenticating the flag as the one that flew for her on her birthday. Sonja is a photographer, and one of her photos appears in the Town of Boone’s 2009 Calendar.
Any citizen can apply through the office of hos/her Congressional representative to have a flag flown above the U.S. Capitol, said Michael Culver, director of congressional and external relations for the architect of the Capitol.
“They can ask their Senator or Member for the flag,” he said. “They are very willing to do so on behalf of their constituents.”
Culver said the honor has a long history and that “the pages who come to work at the Capitol supply a lot of the support for the flag program, such as recording which flag has flown for whom.”
Rep. Foxx’s website gives all the information necessary to obtain a flag which has been flown over the U.S. Capitol. Requests are to be made not more than one month before the required date for flying the flag. The flag is received four to six weeks afterwards. The whole service costs between about $17 and $28, depending on the type of flag is requested.
For more information, click to www.foxx.house.gov/?sectionid=20§iontree=8,20.
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