Division Commanding Officer Tom Reynolds said the unit is doing that by giving people a place to take old, worn flags for proper disposal and allow the public the opportunity to attend a retirement ceremony.
“We are doing this in Cleveland due to the fact that a lot of our cadets and officers are from here,” he said.
The cadets have partnered with local businesses to present two different, but related events.
“On May 19, our Cadets will be at Ace Hardware on 25th Street accepting flags that need to be retired. We will also be selling replacement flags. Our Cadets will be in their dress uniforms out of respect for the flag and will handle them with the reverence that they deserve,” said Patrick Abercrombie, unit public information officer.
The Sea Cadets will store the flags in preparation for a retirement ceremony scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. on May 26 on the football field at Cleveland High School.
“There are a large number of people, of all ages, who have never had the privilege of witnessing a retirement ceremony, and we want to give them that opportunity,” Reynolds said. “All we ask is that people come in the spirit of unity, reverence, and respect that an event like this affords”
Flags for disposal are collected until May 23 at Bender Realty, 425 25th St. N.W.; First National Bank, 137 Ocoee Crossing N.W.; Scott’s Bicycle Center, 2544 Georgetown Rd. N.W.; Summit Insurance Service, 442 Inman St. W.; Gobble’s Automotive, 4640 North Lee Highway; Lowe’s Cabinets and Lighting Gallery, 5585 North Lee Highway; and Southern Cabinets and Lighting, 1814 Gunbarrel Road, Chattanooga.
For more information about the flag retirement ceremony, please email the Chattanooga Division at usnscc.chatt@yahoo.com. For more information about the Sea Cadet program, please visit www.seacadets.org.
