Branson Veterans
Task Force to accept
old
flags on June 14 at Several Locations.
June 14th is the day set aside to gather old, worn, tattered, frayed and/or faded
U.S. Flags by the Branson Veterans Task Force in preparation for retiring
them, according to Tom Goldsworthy, vice chairman of the non-profit’s board
of directors.
“While Old Glory may be mended when torn and cleaned when dirty, the
United States Flag Code states that the flag, when it is in a condition that
it is no longer a fitting emblem of display, should be destroyed in a
dignified way. Old and battered flags will be accepted at: Frontier Flags (The
Flag Store) 212 S. Commercial, the
parking lot of Branson Mill Craft
Village, along Gretna Rd, and the
parking lot of the Veterans Memorial
Museum from 10
a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 14th. The flags will then be given to American
Legion Post #637 in
Kimberling
City for their annual Flag Day ceremony in which the group properly retires old
flags,” said Goldsworthy.
“Our flag represents our national heritage and
symbolizes the courageous, earnest and unselfish experiences of those who have
given us strength as a nation and pride as citizens. The American Legion
members provide a tremendous community service by retiring the flags properly.
We appreciate them and also those businesses that allow us to use
their facility to gather the flags,” he said.
Many of the flags that will be retired come from the Avenue of Freedom
where a total of 92 American flags fly from every lamppost in the median from
the corner of
Gretna Road
and
Missouri
Hwy. 248 to the bridge at
Gretna Road
and
Roark Valley Road
. The flags, plus three 8 x 12 flags, have flown 24/7 since 2001 except for
when they are being cleaned or replaced. Because of normal seasonal weather
changes, the flags must be replaced regularly, said Goldsworthy.
The Branson Veterans Task Force maintains the Avenue of Freedom through
an agreement with the City of
Branson
. Tax deductible donations are accepted for the maintenance of the flags on
the Avenue of Freedom. Donations may be made to the Branson Veterans Task
Force Avenue of Freedom project and mailed to BVTF,
P.O. Box 128
,
Branson
,
MO 65615.
The
Task Force works to promote an environment of patriotic pride and dignity to
recognize and honor the Nation's veterans and their families. This is just one
of the many happenings the non-profit group sponsors, the largest of which is
Veterans Homecoming held during Veterans Week in November. For more
information contact: Branson Veterans Task Force Inc.,
138 Pointe Royale Drive Suite 0 (The Helms Building),
Branson
,
MO 65615 or call 417-337-8387.
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