Veteran Erects 200 Flagpoles in 5 Years to Support Iowa Veterans

Published Jul 1, 2026, 3:00 AM EDT

Eric Dolash, an Army National Guard veteran, is installing flags across the Hawkeye State to veterans for free.

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Published Jul 1, 2026, 3:00 AM EDT

While the nation pauses to celebrate its historic 250th birthday on July 4, it’s likely Eric Dolash will be busy setting up flagpoles, raising Old Glory in a veteran’s front yard. Dolash is on a mission to erect flagpoles for veterans across Iowa. In the past five years, Dolash has raised more than 200 flagpoles across the Hawkeye State for the Veteran Flagpole Initiative, a nonprofit organization based in Spencer, Iowa. His story received national attention recently when it was featured on NewsNation’s “Spirit of America” tour, hosted by Senior National Correspondent Brian Entin. The reporter is traveling across the U.S., highlighting uncommon stories of everyday Americans that don’t often grab national headlines. And Dolash’s story is about as rare and interesting as they come. Dolash is also a veteran; he spent 24 years with the Iowa National Guard, but he sees his ambitious trek through Iowa raising flags as a form of gratitude to those who served.