Submitted photo Volunteers who helped transform their Warren neighborhood pose together after installing new American flags, pressure-washing and painting fire hydrants and restoring historic street markers. The project was organized by local residents across eight streets in a show of civic pride ahead of Memorial Day.

WARREN — In a historic Warren neighborhood, a simple walk sparked a wave of civic pride that has left streets lined with bright American flags, freshly painted fire hydrants and restored stone street markers.

What began as one resident’s quiet frustration blossomed into an effort that united neighbors, revived old traditions and delivered a timely patriotic lift for Memorial Day and the nation’s 250th anniversary.

Former city councilman Dan Crouse, who walks the neighborhood regularly, said he couldn’t ignore the faded fire hydrants and weathered concrete obelisk street signs anymore. He reached out to John Homlitis, a former city treasurer, and Ed Bolino, who for nearly 20 years had organized flag displays on Butler Road until age made climbing ladders too risky.

Together they formed a small committee, printed flyers and went door-to-door across eight streets — Crescent Drive, Foster Drive, Halsey Drive, Overlook Drive, Golf Drive, Fairway Drive, Fairway Court, Woodland Street and Butler Road.

They asked each of the roughly 200 homeowners for a $40 contribution. The response was overwhelming.

Neighbors donated enough to raise more than $6,000. The money funded 93 new American flags, paint for 25 hydrants and restoration of three historic obelisk street markers.

When it came time for installation, residents stepped forward to handle the heavy lifting, renting a lift so no one had to risk climbing ladders.

“It turned out I didn’t know maybe five of them,” Crouse said of the volunteers. “It was really a chance to meet people that live in the neighborhood that I’d never met before.”

The project was completed right on schedule with flags waving by Memorial Day.

Groups divided the labor. While some pressure-washed and painted hydrants, others prepped the obelisks, assembled flag hardware and handled installation.

In total, roughly 30 people volunteered their time, with nearly 100 contributing financially. Leftover funds will help replace flags as needed.

Bolino, who lives on Butler Road and had organized luminaries at Christmas and flags for years with a small group of neighbors, said he was thrilled to see the tradition expand safely.

“I think it brings the neighborhood together,” Bolino said. “It was pride — pride of the country — and I also get to recognize veterans as well during the summertime, and I think that’s important.”

Beyond the fresh coats of paint and fluttering flags, residents say the real success is the renewed sense of connection.

Longtime neighbors who had lived blocks apart for years finally met one another while painting hydrants or assembling poles.

Crouse said the effort remained deliberately nonpolitical to make the task a bipartisan display of shared community spirit in a divided time.

Crouse, who has flown an American flag at his home daily for three decades, said the unique character of the neighborhood — with its distinct homes rather than tract housing — made the project feel especially worthwhile.

“We got it done,” he said. “We’re on budget and on time.”