SEDILLO — After the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and until his death in 2022, U.S. military veteran and Tijeras resident Robert DeBuck and his grandchildren hoisted American flags on the chain-link fence above Interstate 40.

When DeBuck died, the custom died with him — and locals said the absence of his flags left them with the feeling something vital was gone.

So, neighbors formed a coalition to revive the tradition. That kicked off a nearly three-year battle over permits with the state and federal departments of transportation that jointly manage the grassy perch overlooking the highway.

On Saturday morning, three weeks after the group was finally granted permission to erect a permanent flagpole, dozens of residents gathered to watch members of the Women Veteran Warriors Color Guard rai

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