(January 27, 2005) — GATES — Nearly three months ago, thieves ran off with a 20-by-30-foot American flag from a flagpole in front of the Perkins Restaurant on Chili Avenue near Brooks Avenue.

On Wednesday, after spending $1,800 to repair damage to the flagpole and $500 to replace the flag, representatives of The Restaurant Group LLC, the restaurant owners, officially raised the Stars and Stripes over their parking lot again.

"As soon as it went missing, I noticed," said Fred Enders of Privateers Lane, who was eating lunch in the restaurant. "It's a disgrace that someone stole it. I fought under that flag; my parents immigrated to America under that flag."

His mother, Ruth Enders of Henry Circle, pointed out the window. "And this flag, we're all proud of it here in Gates," she said.

At noon, the flag was raised during a ceremony with the Gates Fire Department and local officials.

Fire Commissioner the Rev. John Steger, pastor of St. Jude the Apostle Church on Lyell Road, gave a keynote address. He said the flag is an important symbol of "God and country" and the freedoms with which Americans have been blessed.

Fire Commissioner Bill Gillette said the original flag was "stolen by some very bad people" and added that the flag is not only a symbol of America but also of the Gates community and how "by working together we can get things done."

Town Supervisor Ralph Esposito said the Perkins flag is especially important because it is one of the most prominent things people see in that corner of Gates. The flag was stolen Oct. 23.

"That we've all come together here to put this back really shows the spirit of the community," he said.

Philip C. Gelsomino, CEO of The Restaurant Group, which owns the Chili Avenue Perkins and three others in the Rochester area, said he's glad to have the flag flying again.

"It's hard to say all that the flag means to us," he said. "It's a symbol of all that we have but sometimes take for granted."

MCDERMOT@DemocratandChronicle.com