Dearborn recently installed an official U.S. flag retirement box at the east entrance of the Dearborn Administrative Center, 16901 Michigan Ave., in partnership with Stars For Our Troops, a volunteer organization dedicated to giving retired American flags a renewed purpose.
Partnership with Stars For Our Troops offers a new purpose
DEARBORN — The city recently installed an official U.S. flag retirement box at the east entrance of the Dearborn Administrative Center, 16901 Michigan Ave.
In partnership with Stars For Our Troops, a volunteer organization dedicated to giving retired American flags a renewed purpose, the box allows residents to properly retire faded, torn, or worn American flags in accordance with the U.S. Flag Code.
Once the collection box is full, the flags are then donated to Stars For Our Troops. Since 2010, the organization has collected approximately 1.6 million stars from the donated flags and distributed them to active duty service members, veterans, first responders, and their families along with a note of support.
This initiative extends the life and purpose of American flags while also preserving history.
The official U.S. flag drop box offers residents a way to properly and honorably retire flags, Mayor Abdullah Hammoud said.
“The United States flag is a symbol of freedom and a symbol of our country,” Hammoud said. “When flags become worn or torn, they need to be properly retired. This gives residents a place to bring them so they can be handled with dignity and respect.”
Donation criteria
Flag stars should be no larger than 2 inches across. All donated flags must be labeled as “Made in the U.S.A.” or made by a flag company that is a member of the National Independent Flag Dealers Association or the Flag Manufacturers Association of America.
This new initiative takes place in addition to the city’s annual Flag Day ceremony, held in consultation with the Dearborn Allied War Veterans Council, at 2 p.m. June 14 at Ford Field Park, 22051 Cherry Hill.
For more information about the drop box or the city’s Flag Day ceremony, contact Veterans Liaison Penny Fomby at CFomby@Dearborn.gov.