Exchanging Flags

ZANESVILLE, Ohio – Proper flag etiquette requires American flags to be handled and displayed with the utmost respect.

Zanesville Kiwanis Secretary Kevin Pinson talked about a program his organization is offering to area residents with an existing flag pole, which trades new 3’X 5’, American flags for their old, weather-worn ones.

“If you display a flag at your home and you live in the Zanesville area and your flag is looking a little faded, maybe a little tattered or torn from some of the weather we’ve had, just give us a call, shoot us an email and we will come out and we will replace that for free. We’ll take your worn flag and we are cooperating with Boy Scout Troop 128, who will retire that flag properly for you,” Pinson said.

Each Flag Day, which is Sunday, June 14th, sees special flag retirement ceremonies, where the collected flags are respectfully burned. Pinson noted that the club has exchanged around 40 flags so far but says the project will continue as long as there’s a demand.

“We launched this on Veterans Day last year,” Pinson said. “And what gave me the idea was, I was approached by a lady at church. She said she had an elderly neighbor who had an old flag on display and wanted to know if there was any organizations that had that project. And I wasn’t aware of any. So I took it back to Kiwanis and we adopted ourselves. We partnered with the Fraternal Order of Eagles. They gave us a nice donation to purchase the flags with and then we go out and do the labor.”

Residents with damaged flags are encouraged to provide their contact information to zanesvillekiwanis@gmail.com, online or by calling Pinson at Abbot Senior Living. (740) 454-2781