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Being a Vietnam Veteran, Bob Fleming of Chesterfield Township appreciates those who display the American flag. So, naturally he was curious when one popped up in a flower pot at a nearby bus stop.

That, however, is not why he stopped his car.

He also saw a man – who had not only cleaned up the trash and shopping carts that made the bus stop an eyesore – but installed a canopy over two chairs so anyone waiting for a bus would be more comfortable.

“I stopped to thank him for his efforts,” said Fleming, after greeting Mike Rayner, whose work to clean and maintain several stops along Gratiot Avenue in Chesterfield have gained a following on Facebook.

Fleming volunteers at his local VFW Chapter and therefore knows how much time and energy goes into such an endeavor but he was also amazed by Rayner’s ingenuity.

“I got to tell you, this whole thing has come together out of nowhere,” Rayner said.

After volunteering to help a group of people clean the roadside along 22 Mile Road, Rayner saw social media posts from local residents complaining about the condition of the bus stops and went to see what all the fuss was about.

“There was a small can broken off the stand and overflowing with trash. It had no bag and there were cigarette butts everywhere,” Rayner said. “I just stood there looking at it and thinking about what I could do.”

He’s retired now but having worked in merchandising and retail for years, Rayner immediately thought about the consumer. One of the problems he saw was the absence of an ashcan, which he easily solved with a flower pot from home and a bag of play sand from Home Depot.

As for the rest of it?

He was driving down Fairchild Road on garbage day and found a pile of chairs waiting for pickup. They were perfect; being plastic and having steel frames designed to be secured. Not long after that he was at a shopping center and once again came across a discarded treasure that he repurposed for the canopy.

“It was used to display chaise lounges,” Rayner said. “As you can see, two chairs fit perfectly inside the enclosure.”

Rayner took one of the steel canopies to see if it would work. Now that it has he plans on returning to the store to see if he can secure a couple more.

“I’ve got nine other places to do,” said Rayner, before loading his broom and dustpan into the trunk of his car and adding a few more bottles of cold water to the box placed next to the U.S. flag.

As for why Rayner has become the bus stop guy?

“I’m 81-years-old. I lost a sister to COVID and my wife to cancer,” he said. “These people who take the bus are part of America’s working class. This is about helping them.”

Then he acknowledged he was not a veteran like Fleming due to an illness that prevented him from serving in the military but wants to do his part.

“I’m showing SMART an example of what can be done,” Rayner said. “With the technology they have I’m sure it would be easy to find out how busy each bus stop is and put this kind of effort there.”

For now, at least nine of those are maintained by the greatly appreciated bus stop guy.

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