Members of Westport's Veterans of Foreign Wars post have a new display of patriotism at their State Road headquarters —  a large American flag made of wood and hand-painted by two local siblings and their father.

The wooden flag, dropped off at the post Saturday morning by Brian Auclair and his children Mason, 12, and Anaya, 10, is one of two the family has donated to local veterans this year, and one of about 11 that have been donated since the family first started building and donating them three years ago.

"I try to raise my children with an old school mentality that nothing's free, and you have to respect the sacrifices made by those who gave you the life you have," said the elder Auclair, a sergeant on the Providence, RI police force.

"I think that knowledge of (veterans') sacrifices is something that's been lost, or lost its value, over the years."

The Auclairs build the flags from 1x3 slats and hand-paint them at home. They never know who they're going to give them to from year to year, but usually get suggestions from community members. This year, Westport Veterans Service Officer Carol Freitas suggested one recipient, an older veteran, and Auclair called the VFW on his own to see if they were interested in the other.

Members of the VFW told the Auclairs that they were honored to receive one of this year's flags, and it will be hung adjacent to an outdoor seating area where members hold meetings and gather for clamboils, barbecues and fund-raisers.