Celebrating Flag Day 2015 in Ohio

Honor Old Glory year-round when you ask: How can I donate my car?

She has many names: Old Glory, the Stars and Stripes, the Star Spangled Banner. And each year, we honor the United States’ colors on Flag Day.

June 14 not only celebrates the day in 1777 when the flag was adopted, but also the veterans who have proudly protected her. With nearly 900,000 United States veterans in Ohio alone, there is much we can do to honor those who have so bravely served us.

Keep reading to find out how clicking “donate my car” can help Volunteers of America of Greater Ohio continue to support those who have so bravely fought for our flag.

Know your flag etiquette

It’s important to know how to display the American flag each day of the year, not just on June 14. A few dos and don’ts for hanging Old Glory:

  • The union, or stars, should be at the peak of the staff
  • When flown with other flags, the American flag should be at the center and at the highest point
  • The flag should be centered against a wall
  • Never let the flag touch anything below, such as the ground, floor, water or merchandise
  • Hoist a flag quickly and take it down ceremoniously
  • Flag pins should be worn on the left side of the body, near the heart
  • To display the flag over a street, it should be displayed vertically, with the union to the north on an east-west street, or to the east on a south-north street.
  • The flag should never be used as wearing apparel, bedding or drapery.

Don’t forget, if a flag is torn, tattered or frayed it’s time to retire it out of respect. According to the U.S. Flag Code, if a flag is unfit for display “should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning.”

If you’re concerned about retiring your flag yourself, The Boy Scouts of America has a long tradition of retiring old flags. In fact, many local Cub Scout packs and Boy Scout troops collect them regularly, Bridget Tharp, the community relations and marketing director for the Simon Kenton Council, told the Columbus Dispatch.

“Citizenship is a very important educational tenet of the Scouting program,” Tharp said.

The council sponsors its own flag retirement each year on Military Day at the Ohio State Fair where flags collected throughout the year are respectfully and reverently destroyed.

Flag Day events throughout Ohio

Want to celebrate Old Glory with others? Check out these events near you.

Dayton

3rd Annual Flag Day Celebration

David’s Cemetery

4600 Mad River Road

Kettering, OH 45429

June 12th, 2015 5:30pm – 7:30pm

More information

Cleveland

Ohio Teamster/Medical Mutual Flag Day 5k

Deepwood Center

8121 Deepwood Blvd.

Mentor, Ohio 44060

More information

Cincinnati

10th Annual Flag Day 5K Run/Walk

Cottell Park

5847 Irwin Simpson Road

Mason, Ohio 45040

More information

How can I honor the flag with my car donation?

At Volunteers of America of Greater Ohio, it’s our mission to help those in need. We work to restore homeless veterans’ independence through programs and services like affordable housing, employment services and mental health and substance abuse treatment programs.

However, we cannot provide these critical services on our own. We count on the generosity of our neighbors like you to support the programs our veterans need to regain their independence.

You can honor our flag today with a simple donation of your unwanted car, truck, motorcycle, boat or RV to Volunteers of America.

Just fill out our online car donation form or call (800) 225-0732. We offer free same-day towing, even if your donation hasn’t run in years. Celebrate Flag Day this year by making a difference in the lives of America’s heroes.