Breckenridge Texan

Local Rotarians provide patriotism to city, support local scholarships with flag program

Local Rotarians provide patriotism to city, support local scholarships with flag program
September 09
14:00 2018

This Tuesday when you drive through downtown Breckenridge along Walker Street you’ll see American flags displayed in front of many businesses in remembrance of Patriot Day. The flags will be on display through the work of volunteers from the Rotary Club of Breckenridge.

On Saturday morning, Rotarians Sherry and Les Strickland, along with Andy McCuistion, were at the group’s flag storage shed, preparing the flags to be put out this Tuesday, Sept. 11.  The three Rotarians went through the flags, checking their condition and replacing tattered flags with new ones. Les said the old flags will be taken to a crematorium in Mineral Wells where they will be properly retired according to flag etiquette.

In addition to using the program as a way to show the city’s patriotism during holidays, the Rotary Club also uses the program to raise money for scholarships for local students. Sherry Strickland said the group provides a $1,000 scholarship to a TSTC student and six $500 scholarships to local high school seniors.

The group charges $40 a year to put a flag in front of a business or home during the six holidays they display the flags:  Patriot Day, Veterans Day, Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day, Flag Day and Independence Day. Sherry said they will send someone to a business to drill a hole for the flag pole to be displayed.

She said the volunteers try to have all the flags in place by 8 a.m. and will pick them up at 5 p.m. However, Les said if the holiday falls on a Friday or Monday, they will leave the flags on display throughout the weekend. Sherry said they have seven teams of volunteers that put out about 200 flags each holiday — six teams in town, and one team that puts out flags in the Tanglewood Island and Hubbard Creek Lake area.

In addition to putting out the flags at holidays, Les said, the group also accepts old flags that need to be retired and makes sure they are retired properly.

To find out more about the Rotary’s flag program, or to get with help on properly disposing of an old flag, contact Andy McCuistion at (254) 559-0699.

Story by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan

Cutline, top photo: Rotarian Sherry Strickland roles up a new flag after it was attached to a metal pole at the Rotarian flag storage shed on Saturday. Members of the group were at the facility checking and replacing flags as they prepare to put them out around the City of Breckenridge on Tuesday, Sept. 11, Patriot Day. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

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