East Ridge American Legion gets flag-themed face-lift

Post 95 Commander Joe Pratt stands in front of the newly painted exterior of the American Legion Post 95 in East Ridge.
Post 95 Commander Joe Pratt stands in front of the newly painted exterior of the American Legion Post 95 in East Ridge.

People are taking notice of the American Legion post in East Ridge, thanks to a new paint job that makes the building look like the American flag. The stars-and-stripes exterior coat, as well as window repairs and parking lot striping, were done by a local company -- free of charge.

Randy Newman, of Newman and Sons Painting in Ooltewah, had heard from several friends who were members of the William E. Blair American Legion Post 95 on Ringgold Road that the building had fallen into disrepair.

"I was lookin' at it, and lookin' at it, and lookin' at it, thinking this could be so much more," Newman said.

After getting approval for the design from the post's officers, Newman cobbled together 10- to 12-man crews to complete the work between other contracts and on weekends over the past several weeks. Newman, who isn't a veteran himself, hopes the building serves as a reminder to people.

"A lot of people forget where we get the freedom to do the things we do," Newman said.

Steve Hemstreet, club manager and legion officer at the post, said people have been noticing the building more since the face-lift, whether it be legion members from out of town or local members who never even knew the post was there. He said business has increased, and with more people spending money at "the nicest-looking building in East Ridge," the post will be able to do more charitable work in the community. He said it's all thanks to Newman's generosity.

"You just don't find people like that anymore," Hemstreet said.

While most of the paint was donated by a company that wished to remain anonymous, Newman estimated that the job cost between $28,000 and $35,000. He hasn't received a dollar from the American Legion, and that's fine by him. He said the chance to give back to veterans as well as the "high respect and good food" he and his crew received while working on the project was payment enough. And karma is already taking care of him. According to Newman, he's just been hired to paint Bud's Sports Bar, a veteran-owned establishment on Brainerd Road, because the owners were so impressed with his gesture.

Contact Will Healey at whealey@timesfreepress.com, at 423-757-6731, or on Twitter@wfhealey.

What it looked like before:

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