Flag Day

Here are some of the calls we have received lately: "Why can't our local newspaper honor a veteran in their obituary with a graphic (of the) American flag? Other newspapers do this as an act of patriotism to those who have served our country. " - Funkstown (Editor's note - The Herald-Mail offers graphic items to be used with obituaries, but there is a fee that goes along with that.) "It was a pleasure to hear 'The Star Spangled Banner' sung the traditional way by Alexis Baron.

Disabled American Veterans Chapter 14 of Hagerstown presented Fahrney-Keedy Home & Village with an American flag and a Maryland flag for Flag Day. Stephen L. Hansen, Fahrney-Keedy President Jay Shell and Robert Blair accepted the flag.

HAGERSTOWN Hagerstown officials took a moment Wednesday morning to honor the stars and stripes in celebration of the 229th anniversary of the American flag. "Flag Day is for one flag, our national flag ... Old Glory," said Rusty Baker, commander of AMVETS Post 10. As part of the 27th annual National Pause for the Pledge of Allegiance, members of Girls Inc., led about 25 people in the pledge at University Plaza. Mayor Robert E. Bruchey II used the occasion to announce his plan to alter the plaza in time for next year's Flag Day. "I'm going to push to have at least a 40-foot flagpole there," he said, "and a plaque dedicated in honor of veterans.

Hello! June 14th is Flag Day - wave your flag proudly! And don't forget June 18th is Father's Day. Happy Father's Day to my dad - may you have a terrific day! I'd like to say congratulations to my daughter Shelby for playing her first season of lacrosse. I had a wonderful time watching, enjoying and learning about the sport! You were awesome! As you read this week's column, my family and I will be enjoying a much-needed vacation! Course, you may still call and leave me a message and I will be sure to get back to you when I return home!

U.S. flags fly year-round, but soon even more flags will be displayed proudly. Flag Day is Wednesday, and July Fourth is around the corner. To properly honor Old Glory, here are some tips from the American Legion: Display the flag only from sunrise to sunset unless the flag is properly illuminated during the night. Whether displayed horizontally or vertically against a wall or in a window, the union (the stars) should be in the upper left from the observer's point of view.

Spring has arrived and yard cleaning has begun, and it is an ideal time to replace tattered, torn and worn American flags. The American Legion Auxiliary, Antietam Unit 236, has placed a collection barrel in front of Sharpsburg Town Hall, where residents may place their worn American flags for proper disposal by unit members. Antietam Unit 236 reminds all patriotic Americans to display an American flag in good condition for upcoming patriotic holidays: Armed Forces Day (May 20)

adamb@herald-mail.com HAGERSTOWN - With 16 flags and patriotic bunting adorning the front of his Virginia Avenue home, George Stottlemyer was taking it easy on Flag Day. "I just put a few of them out," he said Tuesday. "Not all of them. " A bundle of small flags, each one neatly rolled up, sat on a chair next to his front door. Stottlemyer said he didn't put them all out because of work he is doing on the front porch. In the backyard, a large flag hung lazily near a tree, limp in the hot afternoon sun. As a veteran, Stottlemyer said he celebrates all patriotic holidays by placing more flags than most people would in front of his house.

shappell@herald-mail.com SMITHSBURG - The air temperature was hot Tuesday, but it was nothing compared to that of the flames engulfing the tattered American flags that were "retired" during a Boy Scout ceremony in Smithsburg. Boy Scout Troop 14's first flag-retiring ceremony at Veterans Memorial Park was held in conjunction with Flag Day. About two dozen people, most of whom were active scouts or their parents, attended. Scoutmaster Jeff Weaver said 28 flags were collected for the ceremony.

SMITHSBURG - Boy Scout Troop 14 has scheduled its first flag-burning ceremony for 7 tonight at Veterans Memorial Park, according to information released by the Smithsburg Parks Commission. Commission Chairman Carlo Belella said residents are encouraged to bring flags that no longer are usable to the event for "proper disposal. " Scoutmaster Jeff Weaver said residents may leave the flags at Town Hall before the event. Weaver said Flag Day seemed to be the most appropriate date for the Scouts, ages 11 to 18, to start such an event.