By Tiffany Merlo Phelps
mail@floridanewsline.com
John Cellucci and Belk Ingram believe strongly in a sense of community, tradition and respect for those who have given the ultimate sacrifice. It is the reason that the two men, Ponte Vedra Boulevard neighbors for 20 years, decided to find a way to publicly display the American flag along the boulevard to honor the fallen war dead.
They formed “Patriotic Ponte Vedra” with the goal of putting up the American flag all along Ponte Vedra Boulevard on Memorial Day, the Fourth of July and Veterans Day. The men met that goal, and the flags have now been displayed eight times since the project began three years ago.
“It kind of hit me that we did not have any community decorations,” said Ingram, Ponte Vedra Club Realty Realtor. “We thought that if we could raise the money to buy the flags and put them up initially then we could present it to the Ponte Vedra Beach Municipal Services District (PVMSD) to take over the project.”
In August 2020, Cellucci, a PVMSD trustee, did just that and received unanimous support from the PVMSD. The community also responded positively, helping the men raise $12,000 from August 2020 to the present.
Phase One of the project cost $4,257 to purchase the first 100 flags, brackets, fasteners and to pay for the first installation on Memorial Day 2021, covering four miles from the Duval County line south to the Sawgrass Club entrance. Phase Two completed the boulevard by taking the flags all the way to Mickler’s Landing (an additional two miles) and adding both Corona and Solana roads (another 60 flags).
The project is now a part of the PVMSD budget, and it costs about $2,500 a year to maintain it.
Cellucci noted that they were able to coordinate with the Ponte Vedra Inn & Club to display its own flags by the Lodge and club. That brought the total number of flags flying to 225 on the six-mile stretch of Ponte Vedra Boulevard plus Corona and Solana roads, Cellucci said.
“This is its own reward. People stop us and tell us how much they appreciate it. It is really spectacular,” said Cellucci, who is a United States Navy veteran.
Dave Delaney, a Ponte Vedra Boulevard homeowner, said he appreciates the efforts of both the PVMSD and Patriotic Ponte Vedra.
“With encouragement from the MSD, Patriotic Ponte Vedra has done a great job reminding everyone how fortunate we are to live in this special community,” said Delaney. “I hope their work on Memorial Day, Independence Day and Veterans Day will motivate our neighbors to fly the Stars and Stripes at their homes year-round and contribute whatever they can to support Patriotic Ponte Vedra.”
Ingram and Cellucci have both lived in Ponte Vedra Beach since 1986, and both feel that it is important to come together as a community to make meaningful projects happen. Both men credit the Ponte Vedra MSD and Chairman Al Hollon, the community, Ponte Vedra Inn and Club, and the Ponte Vedra Community Association with tremendous support for Patriotic Ponte Vedra. Cellucci added that Ponte Vedra Boulevard resident Kristina Greco was an integral part of extending the project along the boulevard for Phase Two and helped raise money for the cause.
“She has continued to offer help if needed for the project, and we are grateful to her for her enthusiasm and support,” said Cellucci.
Last year, the Beaches Exchange Club honored Cellucci and Ingram with a plaque as a recipient of the “Proudly We Hail” program for their work to organize and implement Patriotic Ponte Vedra.
Ingram said they were honored by the award and grateful for the community support that brought the patriotic project to fruition.
“I just think it makes us all feel proud of the country we live in,” said Ingram.
[Author’s note: Anyone who would like to donate to Patriotic Ponte Vedra, should make checks payable to Patriotic Ponte Vedra and mail to Patriotic Ponte Vedra, P.O. Box 242, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32004. For questions about expanding the flags to more interior streets in the Ponte Vedra Boulevard area, email Cellucci at jacchnslt@aol.com.]
Photo courtesy John Cellucci
Jake Mancino erecting a flag.
