Old Flags Get New Home

By Chad Petri Reporter

Mobile's Magnolia Cemetery wants to help you honor the veteran in your family. They're accepting donations of casket flags and they will be used twice a year to honor veterans. Old Flags Get New Home

Published: Mon, May 26, 2008 - 4:23 am Last Updated: Mon, May 26, 2008 - 6:26 am

Chad Petri

Mobile's Magnolia Cemetery wants to help you honor the veteran in your family. They're accepting donations of casket flags and they will be used twice a year to honor veterans. The program started last Memorial Day. Members of the cemetery staff put up several flags on Veteran's Day and Memorial Day.
It's a new home for old flags.

Superitendent Mark Halseth is busy planting 55 casket flags for Memorial Day. His daughter, Arrianna, makes sure none of them touch the ground.

"My dad helps me and it makes it easier for me to hold it up and all," said Arrianna.

The flags are unfurreled twice a eyar for the Veteran's and Memorial Day holidays. 10 of them were sponsored by local families. 9 of those were donated casket flags.

"When a veteran dies the government gives them a flag that is draped on their casket after the funeral that flag is given to the family," said Halseth.

Some of these flags have a lot of age on them for example this one only has 48 stars and the cemetary's always looking for more.

"But we've got room like I said for plenty more I'd like to see us line the streets with them every memorial and veteran's day," said Halseth.

Each sponsored or donated flag has a special plaque on the pole to remember the fallen soldier. People have different reasons for giving up the family's flag.

"We thought wouldn't it be wonderful that not only would they be honored twice a year but their flag would fly because my uncle had given his life in World War II, he was missing in action," said Janet Savage.

Savage is the Executive Director of Friends of Magnolia. She donated casket flags from her father and uncle. Both were World War II veterans. Her uncle was killed in action.

"And it makes my family proud to know that he gave up his life for us so that we could be free," said Savage.

Donating a flag is free. Flag sponsorship is a $100 donation and it is tax deductible.