Far less time will elapse before the next one is remembered.

In 2008, town officials and historical society members celebrated the July 4th unveiling of a marker commemorating the designation of Wendell's downtown as a historic district. That celebration came about a decade after the honor was bestowed.

Earlier this year, state historic preservation designated a residential stretch of Wendell Boulevard as a historic district.

And earlier this month, town commissioners agreed to pay up to $3,000 to erect a momument to the designation.

Nora Cambier asked town leaders to OK the expense and to approve the design of flags that will line the district which stretches from Wendell Elementary School to Old Zebulon Road.

Town board members gave a thumbs up to the flag design which features a tobacco plant on a maroon background.

Several commissioners questioned whether the artistic depiction of the tobacco plant was clear to people who may not have agriculture backgrounds.

Commissioner Ronald Thompson was the only one at his store who recognized it as a tobacco plant. "And I wasn't sure until now," Thompson said.

But Cambier said the committee that selected the design opted to go against the grain by using the tobacco leaf.

"We know it wasn't the politically-correct thing to do, but we felt like it represented the town's history," Cambier said.