Stork Honored by DAR For Flag Presentation

The Smith-McMillan NSDAR Chapter recently honored Cole Richard Stork with the National Society of The Daughters of the American Revolution’s Certificate from the National Committee’s DAR Flag of the United States National Regent and National Committee Chair for Proper Use, Correct Display and Patriotic Presentation of The Flag of the United States of America.

Cole and his mother, Laurie Stork, were guests at the May 20 special meeting of the Smith-McMillan Chapter held at the Fayette Public Library. Cole Stork was the salutatorian of the 2022 graduating class of La Grange High School and currently attends the University of Texas at Austin studying civil engineering.

Cole has been a life-long Scouter. He joined La Grange’s Scouting program in first grade and earned his Eagle last year during his senior year in high school when he finished his Eagle project, the flagpole project at Leopard Stadium. Cole began thinking about what to do for his Eagle project as a middle schooler. Growing up, Cole’s family attended varsity football games, and Cole noticed that Leopard Stadium only had one flagpole. He also noticed that after winning a home game on Friday nights, the Varsity players lowered the United States flag and hoisted a “Leopard” flag to signify victory.

This was the tradition. Cole felt Leopard Stadium needed three flagpoles so that during the Friday Night Lights, the United States and Texas flags could fly separately untouched, and the third pole could remain empty for the players to hoist the Leopard flag after a victory. This would honor both the U.S. and Texas flags, as well as honor the football team’s tradition.

Cole had a vision, but it would not come easily. The project endured a series of unique challenges including: gaining scoutmaster and LGISD approval for the project, fundraising, COVID delays, rain delays, and stadium construction that included the installation of new turf on the football field, which then changed the original proposed location of the three flagpoles. In the end, Cole was able to work closely with the general contractor of the turf construction project; he attended construction meetings and learned a great deal about how project management works in the real world.

By the fall of his senior year at LHS, Cole saw his vision come to life. Now, three flagpoles stand at Leopard stadium. Both the United States and the Texas flags remain flying untouched throughout the Friday Night Lights, and when the Leopards win, they can still hoist their Victory flag on the third flagpole.