Sanger Celebrates Flag Day with a Flag Retirement Ceremony

The city of Sanger marked Flag Day with a heartfelt and respectful Flag Retirement Ceremony, bringing together community members to honor the symbol of our nation's freedom and heritage, recently. The ceremony, held at the Veteran’s Memorial at Sanger Square Park, and was attended by local veterans, civic leaders, and residents.

Keynote speakers included representatives from the Sanger Lions Club, American Legion Post 268 of Sanger and The Lake Ray Robert Area Elks Lodge 268who spoke about the history and significance of Flag Day, as well as the proper etiquette for retiring worn-out American flags.

"Today, we gather not only to honor our flag but also to remember the principles it stands for: liberty, justice, and unity," said Mayor Thomas Muir. "It's a reminder of the sacrifices made by our servicemen and women to protect these ideals."

Denton County Judge Andy Eads was on hand and spoke about a recent trip overseas and how he was proud to have worn a hat that had the American Flag on it. Eads went on to say that he was very proud to see all the American Flags on display in Sanger and how patriotic Denton County is. Judge Eads is most passionate about ensuring Denton County remains the best place to live, work and play and works tirelessly with numerous nonprofits to improve the overall quality of life in Denton County. The Ceremony was hosted by Veteran Tex Mc Dorman and a special Flag Retirement Prayer by Pastor Ken Peterson with North Texas Trinity Cowboy Church in Sanger.

Residents who attended were able to honor a loved one who was a veteran or first responder by sponsoring a flag that was retired in their honor/memory and were able to purchase yard signs. The yard signs will be displayed on July 4th, Veterans Day, Memorial Day and Flag Day at the Veteran Memorial in the park on the square. STARS Paint Party Studios was on hand and folks were able to paint the American Flag.

The highlight of the ceremony was the retirement of several American flags that had flown proudly over homes, businesses, and public buildings in Sanger. These flags were respectfully retired through a dignified burning process or cut up and disposed, in accordance with the U.S. Flag Code.

Local Girl Scout Troop 7847 played a significant role in the event, assisting with the collection and preparation of the flags for retirement. Their participation underscored the importance of passing down patriotic traditions to younger generations. Charli Davis with Troop7847spoke about her upcoming Gold Award Project. Her goal is to have three to four Flag Retirement boxes made and placed within the community so Sanger residents will have a place to put flags that need to be retired from service.

In the photo on Girl Scouts Charli Davis and Alexa Reaves are joined by Lions CUB’s Lilly and Ivy McCullum who presented the flags that were retired. The group lead the community with the Pledge of Allegiance in the opening ceremonies.

Proceeds from the event went to support GSA Troop 7847 and the Sanger Lions Club CUB Club. The CUB club is for children ages 2-12 who do community outreach projects that support the needs of the community.

They serve alongside their parents and other family members who are also involved in community outreach projects.

“Hot Dogs, Apple Pie and the American Flag” was the theme of the night as Sanger's Flag Day celebration not only honored the symbol of our nation but also reinforced the community's commitment to patriotism and respect for the flag. The city of Sanger is dedicated to fostering a strong sense of community and patriotism among its residents. Through events like the Flag Retirement Ceremony, Sanger continues to honor its history and uphold the values that make it a great place to live.