A muddied American flag rested atop the metal pole that stood defiantly at the corner.

Its peaceful position contradicted perfectly the catastrophic winds that only two days earlier had ripped through town, leaving this block utterly unidentifiable, one of many that have been reduced to rubble.

But the still of that flag, which had replaced a street sign that is now God knows where, symbolized the strength, courage and determination of a community.

And on a warm Wednesday afternoon, the second day of rebuilding, the people within this Westmoor subdivision of Moore welcomed a much-needed symbol of hope.