OGUNQUIT ROTARY CLUB MAKES IT EASY TO “HONOR A PATRIOT”
Pick up your “Stars for our Troops” at the Ogunquit Chamber
Pick up your “Stars for our Troops” at the Ogunquit Chamber
The Ogunquit Rotary Club is issuing a challenge to all community members, during the upcoming Patriots Day weekend (April 17-19) and thereafter. The Club encourages you to find a veteran, active military, first responder, essential worker, or caring citizen near you and thank them with a commemorative star. You can pick up your stars in the 24/7 lobby at the Ogunquit Chamber of Commerce, located at 36 Main Street in Ogunquit. You then say thank you to those you are honoring by bestowing their star.
Exactly how are these stars created? That’s where the volunteers from the Ogunquit Rotary Club come in. The Club is a “starmaker organization” affiliated with Stars for our Troops, Inc. (StarsforourTroops.org).
The Rotary Club collects U.S. flags that must be retired because they are tattered and torn. Volunteers meet on a weekly basis to properly fold the flags and perform an official flag retirement ceremony. The flags are then sorted according to size, with the 3x5’ flags with embroidered or sewn stars offering the ideal size for the Stars for our Troops program. Usable flags are then sectioned, and the blue star field is removed, washed, and sanitized. The star field is then ready to be cut and packaged with an honorary note into individual bags ready to distribute to veterans and other American heroes.
The honorary note reads, “I am part of our American flag that has flown over the U.S.A. I can no longer fly. The sun and winds have caused me to become tattered and torn. Please carry me as a reminder that You are not forgotten.”
Let's all spread some good wishes and remembrances this Patriots’ Day! If you need more than five stars, please email Elizabeth Ford at EAF51@Yahoo.com.
