Drumright Celebrates Centennial By Raising Gigantic Community Flag

On Memorial Day Weekend, the city of Drumright is celebrating its centennial.

Its new massive flag was raised for the first time.

"The spirit of Drumright is alive and well," Drumright City Manager Danny Cooper said.

Drumright rolled out to watch as a gigantic U.S. Flag was raised for the very first time for the whole world to see.

"You'll be able to see this thing from Cushing, and you can see it coming from the turnpike," Cooper said. "It's bigger than the water tower which used to sit right over there."

Flying 100 feet over the town, Cooper said the 50-foot by 30-foot flag and pole was paid for entirely by folks and businesses around town.

"Every penny that's in this project, there's about $6,200 dollars in stuff we're looking at that's been donated," Cooper said.

It was donated just in time for some of the city's biggest celebrations.

Its 100-year anniversary, alumni weekend, and, of course, Memorial Day.

"Our flag is a symbol of freedom throughout the world," a speaker said. "This weekend is Memorial Day, and it's time to honor the men and women that gave their lives defending our freedoms."

It's in honor of former Drumright mayor and U.S. Marine, Cleo Hutchinson.

"Cleo Hutchinson was Drumright through and through," Cooper said.

" A passion for Drumright, yes, always all his life," Janie Hutchison Nickles, Cleo's daughter, said.

The high-flying flag looks over the town of 3,000, and is located right in the heart of Drumright.

"We're thrilled to death that after daddy's so many years of service, to be able to have something named after him on some property that he had owned that was important to him is indeed an honor," another of Cleo's daughters, Sandy Hutchison Perry, said.

The Hutchinson family fittingly donated a piece of land, which is now known as Cleo Hutchinson Memorial Centennial Park.

"He'd be very humbled. He'd be very honored. He'd be very touched," Nickles said.

It is a fitting tribute for a man whose legacy will live on for generations to come.

Three floodlights still need to be installed at the base of the flag pole.

So shortly after Saturday's ceremony, the flag was lowered and taken down.

It will go up for good on Flag Day in June.