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Our Retired Flag Box Ceremony
TGO Retired Flag Box Presentation
On May 27, a group of TGO residents came together for the presentation of our new “Retired Flags” box. A lot of our neighbors display the American fl ag here in TGO, and now, when those fl ags become tattered and torn and ready to be replaced, there is an offi cial box where you can place your old fl ags - which will then be properly disposed of. The idea for the retired fl ag box came from Barbara Yeager who saw one at another RV park and thought it would be a great idea for TGO. Barbara fi rst passed the idea to CSA Manager, Billy Specht who also thought it was a good idea. The next step was to get it built, so Barbara presented the idea to Doc Fraser of our sawdust club. She showed him a picture, and the next day he came back with a design idea, measurements, and a plan. This Retired Flag box was now an offi cial project for the Sawdust Club team to complete, and as you can see, they did a fantastic job. Next up was the presentation itself and Barbara pulled out all stops. For those who were not there, Barbara introduced the project providing the background for the idea. Our TGO Golf Pro, Chuck Kandt, led with an invocation, there was a presentation of colors by the Brevard County Sheriff ’s Offi ce Color Guard, and TGO resident Gary Johanson sang the National Anthem. The box was unveiled by Roger and Gail Stairs, and there was a bugler on hand to close out the ceremony by playing taps. Brevard County Sheriff , Wayne Ivey, spoke about the importance of Memorial Day and the role our fl ag plays as a symbol of freedom. He also stayed around to talk with our TGO residents, exchanging stories about his recent trip to our southern border. When the presentation was complete, residents came up to the box and dropped in their worn fl ags. The box was almost fi lled to the top. The fl ag box is now permanently housed on the south side of the CSA building. Stop by to take a look - like our fl ag, it is beautiful!
TGO Retired Flag Box Presentation
Barbara would like to recognize and thank the following TGO residents who helped this project come together: Doc Fraser - Designed and built the box, stand, and sign. Gail Stairs - She had the title of project manager. She followed up with everyone. She searched for specifi c “American Flag Colors.” Gail also painted the box, including all of the stripes. Roger Stairs - Assisted his wife Gail and helped to move the box - and pretty much whatever else Gail asked him to do. Tracy & Wayne Hoff man - Donated the lumber. Tim Emerson - Carved the stars on the top of the box. Charlie Wing & Laura Sievers - Were general consultants and helped with the planning and tool recommendations. Joy Campbell - Was the think tank person. She helped with recommendations for the singer and had many ideas about the honor guard and the bugler. Ed Cote - Will transport the fl ags for proper disposal. Barbara also helped with the design and cut and placed the vinyl stars and words. Her husband, Mike Orszulak, was her sounding board and contributed valuable suggestions.
Roger and Gail Stairs handled the the unveiling of the fl ag box as well as being instrumental in the production process.
Brevard County Sheriff , Wayne Ivey, took part in the presentation providing insight to the importance of Memorial Day. Our local Brevard County Sheriff ’s Offi ce Color Guard were here for the presentation of colors.
Sharon and Jack Fitch brought their old fl ag to place in the box for disposal. The box was nearly full from all the contributers.
Our American Flag - Some Interesting Facts
The American Flag is not just a piece of fabric. It is symbolic of the fabric of our society as a nation. It has been carried far and wide as a symbol of American pride, all the while serving as an emblem of the freedom we hold dear.
Here are 10 interesting facts about the American Flag
There have been 27 versions. From the 1777 original that had 13 stars and 13 stripes for the American colonies, there have been many changes and iterations of the fl ag. Each time a state was added to the union, a star was added to the fl ag. We, of course, now stand with 50 stars and 13 stripes. The fl ag can be displayed for all 24 hours. While it is Federal law that the fl ag should be displayed from sunrise to sunset (unless there’s inclement weather), there are measures that can be taken to display the fl ag for all 24 hours. All that needs to be added is proper illumination of the fl ag so it can be seen in the dark. The colors were chosen carefully. The Red, White, and Blue did not just happen by accident. The founding fathers wanted the colors to have meaning, not just look visually pleasing. Red symbolizes hardiness and valor, white symbolizes purity and innocence and blue represents vigilance, perseverance and justice. The current design wasn’t professionally made. 17-year-old high school student, Robert G. Heft, of Lancaster, Ohio submitted his design in a contest in 1958. It was chosen out of over 1,500 submissions by President Dwight Eisenhower. The current fl ag is the only one to have lasted more than 50 years. As stated above, there have been many changes to the design of the American Flag. But the one we currently observe is the longest running iteration of the symbol, likely because no states have been added to the union since 1959. A snippet of the flag that the Star-Spangled Banner was written about, was sold in 2011. The fl ag that fl ew at Ft. McHenry, immortalized by Francis Scott Key, is still around. A 2” x 5” swatch of it was sold at an auction in 2011 for a whopping $38,000. The rest of the fl ag is on display at Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. The original fl ag is 30’ by 34’ and is displayed in an environmentally controlled chamber. The Flag has a national day of recognition. Flag Day, which celebrates the anniversary of the Flag Resolution of 1777, was established by the Proclamation of President Woodrow Wilson on May 30, 1916, after years of local celebrations. Flags should be disposed of in a “dignifi ed manner.” If an American Flag is damaged beyond repair and you need to dispose of it, you can burn it with dignity or place it in a retired fl ag box - like the one we dedicated here in TGO. The fl ag can touch the ground and still be used. There is a myth that once a fl ag touches the ground it needs to be burned or disposed of. That’s not entirely true. If a fl ag is soiled or touches the ground, it can be washed and dry cleaned and continue to be used. Five American Flags have made it to the moon. You have probably seen Neil Armstrong on the moon with an American Flag, but he is not the only one to plant one on the surface of the moon. Five additional Apollo missions, 12, 14, 15, 16, and 17, ended with an astronaut placing a fl ag on the moon.
Showing Respect For Our Flag
• Folding in the traditional triangle for stowage and never wadded up. • Don’t store the fl ag where it can get dirty. • The fl ag is folded in a triangle because in the U.S. Armed Forces, at the ceremony of retreat, the fl ag is lowered, folded in a triangle, and kept under watch throughout the night as a tribute to our nation’s honored dead. The next morning it is brought out and, at a ceremony of reveille, fl own high as a symbol of belief in the resurrection of the body.
Our local Brevard County Sheriff ’s Offi ce Color Guard helped open and close the ceremony.
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