Two local patriotic groups have joined forces to ensure that worn-out American flags receive the proper retirement they deserve.
The Leesport VFW and the Patriotic Order Sons of America (POS of A), which has its state headquarters in Leesport, recently replaced plastic flag retirement boxes with sturdy, wooden ones. The boxes can be found at the entrances of Redner’s Warehouse Market in Leesport and Tompkins VIST Bank in Bern Township.
Randy Naugle, a member of POS of A Camp 446 in Centerport, which was chartered more than 100 years ago, said that replacing the flag boxes is a project the POS of A has been spearheading in many places.
“I took it on as a project for our camp,” Naugle explained. “The VFW had smaller plastic boxes at the bank and the grocery store, so I talked to our camp about sponsoring new boxes so they would have something nicer for the public to see and use. I appreciated what the VFW was trying to do by gathering the flags, but the plastic box didn’t look like the respect the retired flags should get.”
Naugle contacted Dave McQuirns, a member of POS of A Camp 523 in Eagleville, PA, who built the new boxes. Each stands about four feet tall, is painted red, white and blue, and has a brass plaque that states “Retired Flag Drop-Off Box.” The POS of A paid $150 for each of the boxes and donated them to the Leesport VFW to maintain.
According to Naugle, anyone who has a torn, ripped or worn out flag can bring it to one of the locations and deposit it in the boxes. Members of the Leesport VFW pick them up and have a retirement ceremony. Proper disposal of the American flag is guided by the United States Code, Title 36, Chapter 10 which states that “the flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning.”
The Leesport VFW has been retiring flags for more than 10 years by burning them with a proper ceremony. In one year alone, they retired more 1,950 flags. The organization provides support for some national veterans groups, but most of their activities center around supporting local troops stationed in foreign lands and local needy veteran families. They also distribute Flanders poppies on veterans’ holidays and are active on the planning committee for Leesport Community Days. Meetings are held on the third Monday of each month at Trinity UCC Church in Leesport, and visitors are always welcome.
The POS of A also has a long history of promoting patriotism in the United States. The first meeting was called to order on December 10, 1847 in Philadelphia. The organization, which welcomes male U.S. citizens ages 16 and older, has approximately 700 members, with most hailing from Pennsylvania. Their local activities include donating American flags to various groups, such as the Reading Railroad Heritage Museum in Hamburg, the Centerport Fire Company, Leesport Fire Company and local schools. In addition, members participate in solemn flag raising ceremonies on special holidays like Memorial Day. They also conduct fund raisers, which include holding a Kauffman’s Chicken BBQ in October, a Washington’s Birthday spaghetti dinner and hoedown in February, selling homemade ice cream sundaes at Leesport Community Days, and sponsoring year-round quoits and washers tournaments to pay for the flag boxes and activities.
The flag box project is far from over. At a September POS of A meeting, the members of Camp 446 voted to sponsor a box for the Hamburg Lowes store, while a camp in Hyde Park will sponsor a box at the Muhlenberg Lowes.
The prominent display of the boxes at Redner’s and VIST bank fits in with both businesses’ corporate model.
“We’re very happy to help the VFW by supporting their efforts,” said Redner’s store director William Eschbach. “We’re community centered and we want people to shop here and have the opportunity to recycle and retire their flags conveniently when they shop.”
Amy K. Vaughan, branch manager at the Bern Township branch of Tompkins VIST Bank, echoes Eschbach’s sentiment.
“Community is everything to us, and we like to help as much as we can,” Vaughan said. “The new box is stunning and it’s such a nice focal point when walking into the branch.”
