SALISBURY — A couple of months ago, the flags outside Hudson-Miller-Tatum VFW Post No. 3006 were looking pretty worn, and someone with Powles Staton Funeral Home noticed their tired condition.

Thursday evening, all that was rectified as the VFW members hoisted six new flags in the flag garden outside the post on Brenner Avenue.

The flags, courtesy of the funeral home in Rockwell and Carolina Cremation in Salisbury, represent the military branches, along with a new state of North Carolina flag.

VFW Post 3006 Commander Jim Fox thanked the four representatives of Powles Staton for the gift and their continued support of veterans through various functions during the year.

“They go above and beyond the call to help veterans,” Fox said.

After saying the Pledge of Allegiance to the U.S. flag, the six new flags went sent up the flag garden poles one by one.

Those doing the honors were Donnie and Julie Miller, the N.C. flag; Mike Stracuzzi and Danette Grandbury, Army flag; Dan Hill and Teresa Fox, Marine Corps; Dennis Eccleston, Navy; Dr. Boyd Watts and his son, Robbie, Air Force; and Bill Anderson and Mary Williams, Coast Guard.

With the new flags in place, Powles Staton then treated the post to a fish-fry “cookout,” which was actually served inside the VFW’s air-conditioned Hudson Hall.

Once again, Rowan County Register of Deeds John Brindle and his assistant, Shane Aldridge, did the cooking honors, as they have for many Powles Staton Funeral Home events.

Russ Roakes, one of the funeral directors, said his mother, Sandra, made a tub of tartar sauce for the cookout using her father’s recipe. Russ said it’s so good, “you could drink the stuff.”

Mustered in 1941, VFW Post 3006 is known by many as the post with the helicopter on permanent display out front. It’s located near the Hefner VA Medical Center on Brenner Avenue.

Contact Mark Wineka at 704-797-4263.