Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Flag Day is June 14

The American Flag is, to many, a symbol of freedom and respect comes easily. Flag Day is June 14 and is one of the few days of the year when some people display the flag. Its important to remember that there are rules governing the handling of American Flags.

Carl Ray is Quartermaster of the V.F.W. Post 8671 in Prescott. He said flag education is one of the community services provided by members of the local V.F.W.

Its a piece of cloth, Ray said. But it has meaning.

Ray said showing proper respect is the first rule of handling the Flag. It should be raised briskly and lowered slowly, flown higher than any other flag its flown with, and should be lighted if it remains on the mast after dark.

Flags, like any other piece of cloth, eventually wear out. While its acceptable to mend or clean flags, there also comes a time when the Flag should be disposed of. Ray said that the requirements once called for Flags to be burned as part of a ceremony. Because of the large number of American Flags being flown - and needing replacement - that rule has been relaxed. Ray said the V.F.W. is one of several organizations that dispose of Flags, but its also acceptable for an individual to burn a Flag. Flags should be burned completely and the ashes should be buried. Ray said its not acceptable to throw them out with the trash.

The local V.F.W. also provides Flags for area schools and some organizations.

But American Flags are only one part of the V.F.W.s community involvement. Post Commander Billy Inscore said the local V.F.W. has 109 members who served in World War II and every major conflict since then.

The V.F.W. Canteen is probably one of the best-known fundraisers hosted by the local Post. Inscore said theres karoke on Friday nights and a jam session on Saturdays. The canteen has one paid employee and the rest of the duties are on a volunteer basis. The money raised goes to an array of projects.

The local post supports youth baseball, the Boys Ranch, the Arkansas Childrens Hospital, St. Judes Research Center and provides scholarships.

We donate a lot of money back out to the community, Inscore said.

In addition, the local post sponsors an annual Voice of Democracy and Patriots Pin program, encouraging students in grades 6-12 to write about veterans, freedom, patriotism and other topics.

The members of the V.F.W. gather the third Monday of each month for a meal and a meeting. To be eligible for membership to the V.F.W., you must have served in a branch of the U.S. Military in a conflict on foreign soil. Membership in the V.F.W. Ladies Auxiliary is restricted to those who have an immediate family member - grandfather, father, spouse or sibling - who served.

For more information, contact the post at 887-6031 or any V.F.W. member.