HAMTRAMCK — Flags representing over 15 countries will be on display on Saturday, June 15, beginning at 9:30 a.m. on Joseph Campau, Hamtramck’s main street. 

Along with the American flag, other countries that will be represented are Bosnia, Bangladesh, Yemen, Iraq, Lebanon, Albania, Romania, Armenia, Croatia, Russia, Macedonia, Ukraine, Ethiopia, Mexico, Turkey and Poland. Many people from these nations now call Hamtramck home, as the City has become one of the most ethnically diverse in Michigan. 

“We have folks who came to this country from many other nations,” said Russ Gordon, chairman of the Hamtramck Human Relations Commission, who is spearheading the project. “Hamtramck has always been multinational,” Gordon said. 

The City is widely known for its diversity. Gordon said that the idea to raise the collection of international flags came a little over a year ago. The City had installed the massive flagpoles along Jos. Campau, between Caniff and Carpenter, some 30 years ago, but they long ago fell into disuse and disrepair. 

The Human Relations Commission took on the challenge of raising money to refurbish the flagpoles and adorn them with international flags, which is what the flagpoles were originally used for. The Commission has raised more than $12,000 for the project. All donors who contribute $1,000, or more, have their names placed on commemorative plaques that are attached to the flagpoles. While the fundraising has been exceptionally successful so far, Gordon said that more is being raised to provide for the continuing maintenance of the flagpoles and periodic replacement of the flags, which will become necessary as they wear out. Each flag costs between $150 and $400. Anybody who wants to make a donation can contact Gordon at russ@franklinelectriccorp.com. 

One of the tasks of the Human Relations Commission is to strengthen relations between the many ethnic groups now living in Hamtramck.