As Memorial Day approaches, Mariposa residents can rest assured that this community values the meaning of the holiday far more than for just having a day off. When the flag pole at the Mariposa FFA Boosters auction went on the block on April 24, no one could have predicted that it would sell for a total of nearly $3,000. But it did, selling over and over again as buyers donated it back.

The flag pole sold nine times in the live auction, as buyers donated back after each purchase. It also generated another $500 in donations not related to the auction. FFA Boosters are still tallying the total, so the figure could reach higher.

Proceeds from the flag pole benefit the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, which assists military families through any financial hardships they might face following the loss of their loved ones. The fund was established in 2000 to provide financial support for the dependents of United States military personnel lost in performance of their duty.

On that spring night in Mariposa, the community showed how important supporting this fund is once again. The FFA Boosters have now raised some $15,000 for the fund over the course of the past several years.

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