Campers learn how to treat flag

Published 4:47 pm Friday, June 12, 2015

Proper treatment of the American Flag is a lesson not taught in schools or maybe even many homes.

Crishuna Oliver, Zachary Geiger, Jontae Franklin, Isaiah Foster and Malcolm Lezama help Bonny Cost raise a new American Flag at the Chilton County YMCA on Friday.

Crishuna Oliver, Zachary Geiger, Jontae Franklin, Isaiah Foster and Malcolm Lezama help Bonny Cost raise a new American Flag at the Chilton County YMCA on Friday.

So, leading up to the Flag Day holiday on Sunday, representatives of local veterans organizations shared important information with Chilton County YMCA Summer Camp participants.

Bonny Cost, James Gore and Jerry Grooms, representing American Legion Post 6 and the local Veterans of Foreign Wars chapter, lowered the flag flying in front of the YMCA on Friday and raised a new one—with the help of several campers while the rest watched.

“It teaches the kids what the flag represents,” Grooms said about the effort, which is in its second year. “They understand what it’s for.”

Grooms said he thinks it is important to involve youth in ceremonies that recognize veterans and the flag.

Jerry Grooms with American Legion Post 6 chooses participants of the YMCA's Summer Camp to help with the flag ceremony.

Jerry Grooms with American Legion Post 6 chooses participants of the YMCA’s Summer Camp to help with the flag ceremony.

About 80 children were present at the ceremony, YMCA Director Angie Wright said.

Later in the day, Cost returned to the Y to give lessons on how to fold the flag, and dispose of an aged flag.