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By Jim Buice

For the Clemmons Courier

Dedication ceremonies in Bermuda Run involving the Blue Heron Trail have become commonplace over the last couple of years, but the latest was more than just a ribbon-cutting.

This time, it was the Flags at the Blue Heron Trail with a special flag-raising ceremony at the U.S. 158 roundabout in front of WinMock at Kinderton.

“This flag plaza is not only yet another addition to our town’s Blue Heron Trail but also serves as a welcoming gateway to our town and our county,” said Mayor Mike Brannon after the April 22 event. “Wayne Thomas from WinMock has graciously agreed to have his team manage the raising and lowering of the flags when directed by the president or our governor.”

There actually have been three other dedications since July 2023 — starting with not one but two ribbon-cuttings on the same day with the first along U.S. 158 at the pedestrian bridge and then the other in front of the tunnel under I-40 to officially dedicate the Blue Heron Trail.

Rick Cross, who was the mayor at the time, offered this comment: “We wanted to recognize the importance of connecting our community through our Blue Heron Trail, and we wanted to celebrate the opening of our trail with our Kinderton Village neighborhood because it’s the point in the trail where a pedestrian tunnel travels under Interstate 40.”

Then earlier in late March of this year, there was an official opening of Phase II of the Blue Heron Trail with a special ribbon-cutting ceremony at the I-40 pedestrian bridge.

When the I-40 widening project was underway several years ago, the town partnered with the NCDOT to replace the pedestrian bridge that was used for many years as part of the Bahnson family farm.

The opening of the bridge allowed the town to not only connect to more walkable communities, Brannon said, but also to the Truist Sports Park playground and the broader recreational areas of NC Fusion (soccer parks) and RISE Indoor Sports.

As for the flags project, it was started by the Bermuda Run Vision Committee, which raised money through a campaign for residents to purchase engraved pavers for $100 each. 

“They also solicited donations from local businesses,” Brannon added. “A recognition plaque for those businesses was attached to one of the large rocks near the three flags (U.S., N.C., and Davie County flags). These funds plus financial support from our council helped make this vision a reality.

“It was great to see so many people from our town as well as county leaders, fire and EMS representatives and many others join us for our Flags at the Blue Heron Trail flag-raising ceremony.”

Brannon then offered special thanks to Davie County Veterans Services, VFW Post 8719 and DAV Chapter 75 for conducting the formal flag-raising ceremony along with his appreciation to Benita Finney, a Davie County commissioner, for singing the national anthem and leading the Pledge of Allegiance. 

The flag plaza rounds out a town and county theme with the roundabout that includes the obelisk — where near the top is a cupola with a blue heron, which is the town logo, and features a copper roof and a weather vane at the summit. The heron relates to Bermuda Run and Davie County’s tie to the Yadkin River and wildlife. The cupola represents Bermuda Run and Davie County’s agricultural and village heritage.