Teen Flag Designer Eyes Town Supervisor Post, Someday

Flanders resident Shannon Merker not only loves her community so much that she designed a flag in its honor -- one day, she'd like to run for town supervisor.

The new Flanders flag, designed by the teen, was flying high on Tuesday, as elected officials gathered to celebrate its being raised for the first time.

The flag waving in the breeze was a longtime dream for Merker, who was only 12 years old when she first came up with the idea of designing a flag for Flanders.  She approached Southampton Town Councilman Chris Nuzzi with the design.

"I guess you can say I got myself involved with designing the flag," Merker said. "I was coming home from Hampton Bays one day with my mom and I had noticed they had their own flag, when I asked my mom why Flanders didn't have one, she didn't know. So when I got home I drew one and wrote a letter explaining the flag and why I thought Flanders should have one and sent it to Councilman Christopher Nuzzi."

That first version of the was framed and presented to Merker at the reopening of the David W. Crohan Community Center in Flanders in 2009; the center is named for her grandfather.

The inspiration for her flag came from the iconic Big Duck, Merker said. "Being that the Big Duck is such a big part of the Flanders community I thought it was necessary to incorporate it. I chose the waterways and the pine needles to represent the Pine Barons."

Merker said her family has deep roots in the Flanders community, living in the area since the early 1900s.

The teen approached Nuzzi again several months ago saying that she would like to see the flag become official and be flown in Flanders.  Nuzzi then asked Merker to present her idea to community and civic groups to get their support of the design and concept.  She garnered support and the Town adopted a resolution to recognize the flag.

At Tuesday's ceremony, Nuzzi, along with Flanders Citizens Advisory Committee Chair Rich Naso and Flanders Fire Department Chief Brian Williams spoke in honor of Merker at the ceremony.  

The Flanders flag, which joins flags designed especially for the Village of Quogue and Hampton Bays, will be flown at the Flanders Memorial Park and the David W. Crohan Community Center.

Both Hampton Bays and Quogue ran contests so community members could submit their designs for the flags, according to Kristen Doulos, Southampton Town legislative aide. Not all hamlets have their own flag, she added.

Looking ahead, Merker said her future will be shaped by civic pride. "In the future, I hope to pursue law enforcement. I want to become a police officer -- and maybe even town supervisor," she said.

While Merker said the intention was not to make a profit from the flag, residents interested in ordering one can contact her by emailing sm96@optonline.net.