FAIRHOPE, Ala. — The scenic entrance to Fairhope is also a patriotic one.

Turning south onto the road formerly known as North Section Street from U.S. 98, the curving highway with its wide grass shoulder landscaped with trees is also lined with 50 American flags often waving from a strong bay breeze.

In 2004, that stretch of road from U.S. 98 to County Road 104 was renamed and dedicated as Veteran’s Drive.

“It was past time to have something dedicated for our veterans,” said Lisa Bishop, with the Eastern Shore lodge of Woodmen of the World Life Insurance Society in Daphne that donated 50 new flags for Veteran’s Drive this week. “We did the original presentation and also donated the first 50 flags.”

With last Thursday’s raising of the new flags to replace the originals, which had faded after four years of facing the elements, the red, white and blue colors of the Stars and Stripes now blaze brighter.

“We got it named Veteran’s Drive by the City Council and dedicated just before the 1165th National Guard Unit came home from Iraq,” said Odom, who was instrumental in having the road renamed and the scenic entrance to Fairhope lined with American flags. “We give honor to veterans of all wars whether they live here or not. Our city has been very gracious to allow this to happen.”

An earlier attempt to have a road named “Freedom” was denied because of the existing Freedom Street in Fairhope, and the problems with emergency services caused by having two streets with the same or similar name in a city.

Odom said that effort to honor veterans was important and overdue because there was not then any visible or tangible evidence of recognition to them in Fairhope.

As a veteran of the U.S. Army and National Guard, he took up the cause at that point, he said.

“I went to the 911 office and found there was only one other Veteran’s Road, and it was off of Fort Morgan Road (in Gulf Shores),” he said. “I then asked various groups in town and at Fort Riel Armory if they had any objections to renaming the road.”

Odom said he teamed up Joe Birindelli, who is active in local veteran’s issues, and presented a resolution to the City Council to have the street renamed, which was immediately approved.

“The room was packed from something controversial that was going on that night,” he said. “When our resolution was approved, everybody cheered.”

When Veteran’s Drive was renamed and dedicated in 2004, Odom took charge of putting the poles in place and has maintained the flags ever since.

“I would like to thank all the volunteers who helped put up the flagpoles,” he said. “We had to sink concrete bases.”

When a new reporter joined the Fairhope Courier last year, one of the first stories he wrote referred to Veteran’s Drive as North Section Street.

Odom called the same day the story ran.

“The road is called Veteran’s Drive,” Odom told him.

He has not made that mistake again, the reporter said.

The 50 new flags on Veteran’s Drive are 3-by-5 feet and cost approximately $25 each, Bishop said.

She said that Woodmen of the World lodges provide more flags in the country than any institution except the federal government.

“We donate flags for ball parks, scout troops and places like City Hall here in Fairhope,” Bishop said. “We are very active in promoting patriotism.”