SAR Piedmont / Robert Forsyth Chapter US Flag Retirement

On June 27, 2020 in Cumming, Georgia there was a US Flag Retirement Ceremony by two SAR (Sons of the American Revolution) Chapters, the Piedmont Chapter of Roswell and the Robert Forsyth Chapter of Cumming along the DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution) and the CAR (Children of the American Revolution). Over two thousand US Flags collected and given to the Ingram Funeral Home for proper retirement and for use at US Military Veterans Funerals.

History of the US Flag Retirement Ceremony: In 2013, Allen Greenly (President of the Robert Forsyth Chapter in GA) and John Flikeid developed a project for the construction of a Flag Receptacle to be placed in partnering Home Depot store locations. Home Depot customers would be able to deposit their worn and unserviceable flags in the Flag Receptacle. Those flags would be collected by members of the sponsoring SAR chapter, and properly disposed of in an annual Flag Retirement Ceremony at a local funeral home and crematory to be held on a weekend close to Flag Day. The sponsorship of these Flag Receptacles was also shared by local DAR, C.A.R. societies, and local Boy Scout Troops. The initial Flag Receptacle was sponsored by the Robert Forsyth Chapter, SAR, the Martha Stewart Bulloch Chapter, DAR and Boy Scout Troop 1099. This flag receptacle was placed in the Cumming Home Depot on Flag Day 2013. The first year, the Robert Forsyth Chapter collected approximately 500 flags from this receptacle. Based on the success of this first receptacle, the Robert Forsyth Chapter installed a second Flag Receptacle in the Dawsonville Home Depot. This receptacle was also sponsored by the Martha Stewart Bulloch Chapter, DAR and the local Dawsonville Boy Scouts.

An additional Flag Receptacle was purchased by the Atlanta Chapter and placed in a Home Depot in the Atlanta area. Based on the success of the project by the Robert Forsyth Chapter, the Piedmont Chapter decided to participate in the project beginning in August of 2015. The Piedmont Chapter was able to partner with two Home Depot store locations, one in Roswell, GA and one in Alpharetta, GA to place a Flag Receptacle in each of the two stores. The Piedmont Chapter partnered with the Martha Stewart Bulloch DAR and the Martha Stewart Bulloch Society C.A.R. to place these receptacles.

The first combined Flag Retirement Ceremony by the Robert Forsyth and Piedmont chapters occurred in June of 2016, in which approximately 1,200 worn flags were properly disposed of. The Robert Forsyth and Piedmont Chapters held a joint Flag Retirement Ceremony on June 10, 2017 where approximately 2000 worn flags were given a proper and respectful disposition. The program was an overwhelming success and both chapters are planning on adding additional Flag Receptacles.

The Flag Receptacles are made out of steel, then covered with the vinyl artwork. The left shows a Minute Man with the backdrop of the American flag. The front artwork shows the American Bald Eagle coming out of an American flag. The right side shows the tail of the bald eagle and the American flag. Faded in is the photo of the soldiers raising the American flag on Iwo Jima. The receptacles have dual locks on the front door. It also has four caster wheels for easy mobility. The cost of these receptacles is approximately $1,000 and will last for years either inside or out in the weather.

The receptacles are designed to be placed in public places with lots of foot traffic. The artwork is designed to catch the eyes of the public as they go about their normal routines. Home Depot stores were chosen due to their size and foot traffic. However, they can be placed in any large retail environment making them easily accessible to the public.

This program has become a huge success based on the limited receptacles in place today. What we have found is that there is a great need by the public to properly dispose of their used and worn flags. The problem is that most do not know where to take their flags for proper disposal. These receptacles provide a place for them to deposit their used and worn flags in a place that is open seven days a week.