Saratoga News

Photograph by George Sakkestad

Helen Nishimura Shaw gets a little help from her cockatoo, Peaches, as she prepares to deliver 3,000 American flags around Saratoga on the Fourth of July.

Helen Shaw spreads spirit one flag at a time

By Sarah Lombardo

The occupants of some 3,000 homes in Saratoga will wake up this Fourth of July to streets lined with American flags, thanks to Saratoga resident Helen Nishimura Shaw.

Shaw, friends, staff members at her local chiropractic clinic and even some patients have been rising at dawn each July 4 since 1993 to begin handing out American flags. They place the almost foot-long flags--on small wooden poles--at each house, often where the lawn meets the sidewalk.

"That way, when people wake up, they see all these flags down their street," Shaw said.

Shaw said they try to visit a different area of the city each year. This year, they plan to begin at Saratoga-Sunnyvale and Prospect roads and head toward Herriman Avenue. "We just go until we run out of flags," she said.

Shaw said she does it to remind people about the holiday and to foster community spirit. But, she said, she also does it to a small extent to try to give people something positive to associate with chiropractic care--a practice many still consider an alternative type of healing.

Although Shaw does attach a small card with the name of her clinic to the flags, she said the purpose is only to let people know who has visited their homes and to pass along a greeting.

"Please join us in this Fourth of July to wave our flags and give tribute to this great country, where there is still an opportunity to make your dreams come true," the card reads.

"We thought maybe some people wouldn't like to not know who had been on their street placing all these flags around," she said. "And we also like to hear back from people so we know if they liked it or not and can plan for the next year."

Shaw said the response to the flags is usually overwhelmingly positive, although each year does bring one or two complaints. But, Shaw said, Saratoga's vocalness is what makes the city so great.

"I love Saratogans because they are so active," she said. "And I tell people, 'If they don't want the flag, that's fine. Just wish them a happy Fourth of July and move on.' "

Shaw's dedication to spreading community spirit for Independence Day, from her flag distribution down to the red, white and blue polish on her fingernails, may seem a little hard to believe--until you walk into her clinic on Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road, which is decorated with red, white and blue flags, stars and streamers. She's even created a patriotic environment for the fish in the waiting room's saltwater tank.

"I guess I'm just idealistic," she said.

Shaw said she is always seeking people interested in helping distribute flags. For more information, call 253-3396.

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