The Montgomery County Veteran’s Memorial Commission’s flag-retirement program has seen such success at its flag-donation receptacle in Conroe that the program is expanding around the county.
Two flag-donation boxes will be in the Magnolia area. Four are in Precinct 1 areas in Montgomery, Willis and north Conroe and a receptacle will also be coming to Splendora.
Here’s what to know about the group’s Retire & Respect program and how it works:
WHERE TO COOL OFF: Conroe has a waterpark, pools and a splash pad. Here is what to know.
What is Retire & Respect?
It is a program of the veteran’s commission to collect U.S. flags that can no longer be flown due to damage. The commission also oversees the Montgomery County Veteran’s Memorial Park in Conroe.
Vietnam veteran Jimmie C. Edwards III chairs the commission.
In 2022, a friend invited him out to the local landfill to see the number of American flags that had been discarded there, Edwards knew Montgomery County had to do better.
Edwards got with other commission members and launched the Retire & Respect program.
The commission seeks to collect old and unusable American flags, hoping residents will take them to specially designed metal receptacles that will be placed around the county. From there, the commission will retire them, following guidelines laid out by the Department of Defense.
The first collection bin is in the Conroe park but his plan was always to expand with other boxes across the county.
Expanded locations
On May 1, Montgomery County Precinct 1 Commissioner Robert Walker partnered with the commission to place four boxes in Precinct 1.
The bins are at North Montgomery County Community Center at 600 Gerald Street, Willis; Conroe North Montgomery County Recycle Center 142 W. Wally Wilkerson Parkway, Conroe, and Lone Star Community Center 2500 Lone Star Parkway, Montgomery.
A fourth bin is also planned but the address for it was not yet available.
Montgomery County Precinct 2 Commissioner Charlie Riley has placed two bins in his precinct at the Montgomery County Tax Office (Magnolia Office), 19100 Unity Park Drive, Magnolia and West County Community Center (Friendship Center), 31355 Friendship Drive, Magnolia.
A bin is also coming to Splendora’s City Hall at 26090 FM 2090 East in Splendora.
This box is a partnership between the city of Splendora and Splendora resident Ana Hernandez. Her son, Lance Cpl. Armando Hernandez, 20, died in June 2021 in an on-duty accident while serving in Okinawa in the U.S. Marine Corps. She is now a veteran’s commission member.
CONROE RESTAURANTS: Freddy’s to soon open in Conroe with a drive-thru Chick-fil-A not too far behind
How they are collected
The commission members will regularly collect the donated flags from across the county and they will be retired in a ceremony at the veteran’s park.
They will have one large ceremony once a year. This year the flag retirement ceremony will be in the fall due to the extreme heat they have experienced during Flag Day on June 14. They are also retired monthly by board members.
According to the U.S. Flag Code, “The flag, when it is in such a condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning.”
The blue field, stars and stripes are all cut and separated. The grommets are removed for a separate service.
Elizabeth Woods, executive director for the commission, said they are looking to receive US flags, but they also get Texas flags and can retire those as well.
An education center is currently being built at the park with plans to open later this year. It’s Woods hope to have a designated spot near the building where their flag-retirement ceremonies will take place.
If the full content does not display, visit the article originally published on this site
