Dartmouth businessman raises the flag for local patriotism

Apr 12, 2022

A Dartmouth businessman is leading the charge for veteran appreciation.

Pete Lantz, a fourth-generation Marine Corps veteran and vice-president of Dartmouth’s USA Wealth Group, was recently approved by the town’s Select Board to place American flags along the median of Faunce Corner Road during patriotic holidays.

“[The Select Board] didn’t hardly let me finish, they were so excited about it,” said Lantz, explaining that the project would be funded by USA Wealth Group, so the town had little reason to object.

Lantz even received a letter of thanks from the Select Board and Town Administrator Shawn MacIness in the days following the approval of his plan.

“The Dartmouth Select Board would like to take this opportunity to thank the Lantz family for your contribution, time and efforts to recognize the military personnel in Town and show the community's support and respect for our veterans,” the letter read. “Dartmouth is fortunate to have residents like the Lantz family, who are willing to volunteer their services for the benefit of all of our residents.”

Lantz said that while he is excited about the project, the idea for it was not completely original.

He noted that the Dartmouth Lions Club used to do something very similar until a few years ago.

“Every patriotic holiday they always had flags all the way up the road,” he recalled. “It always made me feel really good about the town when I saw it.”

Lantz is a fourth-generation Marine who served six years in the Marine Corps Reserve.

Lantz said that his great-grandfather was awarded a Purple Heart for his service in World War I and his grandfather fought in World War II and the Korean War, earning a Purple Heart in each.

His father, Raymond Lantz, who founded USA Wealth Group and is still its president, also served in the Reserve.

Along with family history in the military, Lantz has a personal history of supporting and honoring veterans that goes beyond his military service.

Lantz is the founder of the Greater New Bedford Marine Corps League, which he said supports veterans of all branches.

In addition to holding meetings and providing a like-minded support network, Lantz said the group often appears in unofficial uniform to march in parades and pay respects at wakes.

Though Lantz said his new flag project is still “very early in the process,” he said he’d like to make sure the flags are at least as big as the ones the Lion’s Club used to set up around town — about 2’x4’ to 3’x5’ by his estimate.

The flags will run along the median of Faunce Corner Road between Route 6 and where the median ends, just before the Cross Road intersection.

Lantz said he hopes to be able to put the flags up for the first time on Memorial Day, May 22, and on every patriotic holiday thereafter, including unobserved holidays like 9/11 and Pearl Harbor Day.

Lantz said he will also look into the possibility of putting up a large, permanent flagpole in the middle of the Faunce Corner Road overpass, where it crosses I-195, so “not only the whole town, but everyone driving by can see it.”

Those wishing to assist with the project can contact Pete Lantz at pclantz76@gmail.com.