On Tuesday, June 11, local Wreaths Across America (WAA) coordinators and volunteers will begin the week by patriotically waving flags. Locally, coordinators Linda Smith and Sue Priest refer to this as Wave Across America. On Friday, June 14 -Flag Day, flag folding ceremonies will occur in Martin and in Union City.
June 11, 2024, local WAA volunteers will be in front of Union City Baptist Temple, Scott’s Grill and Tiny Baker. Martin locations include Crank’d Garage (shop 2) and the Gateway Center. Community members are invited to stand outside and join them in waving a flag during between 10 and 11 a.m. hour. WAA will have flags at these locations for those who are present.
“If anyone who wishes to participate is unable to get to one of the designated sites, they should feel free to stand in their own front yard, and wave an America flag during the hour. We encourage volunteers and supporters to join us in honoring our flag and all who have served to protect us,” stated Linda Smith, Location Coordinator for eight cemeteries that make up TNECMT. Every Tuesday at 9 am ET WAA staff, volunteers, and supporters line Route 1 in Columbia Falls, Maine, with patriotic Americans waving the American Flag. This Tuesday tradition has been taking place every week since 2019 when the national nonprofit took over the event from the Freeport Flag Ladies who waved the American Flag each week for 18 years following 9/11.
June 14, the Flag Folding a ceremony will be held at two different locations. In Martin, the ceremony will be held outside the Gateway Center beginning at 10:30. The second ceremony will occur at 12 p.m. in front of the monument at the Obion County Courthouse. Area veterans and auxiliary members will fold an American Flag and identify what each fold represents. The ceremony will begin at with a brief introduction.
National Flag Week for 2024 occurs June 9-15. Flag week is the week during which National Flag Day, June 14, occurs. Local coordinators for Wreaths Across America (WAA) and volunteers want to utilize this week to honor the flag, as well as the men and women who have served this country. Participants are encouraged to take videos and pictures of their participation in the flag waving and share them with Wreaths Across America, their family, and their friends. This effort is meant to help REMEMBER our nation’s heroes, HONOR their sacrifices and TEACH the next generation that it is okay to wave a flag and be proud of your country while showing honor and respect for those who have helped protect our freedom. Locally, you are urged to send them to lin_lees@hotmail.com or grmysue76@gmail.com for use on the local WAA coordinators’ various media sites.
You can sponsor a wreath for $17 to support the local cemeteries associated with location TNECMT at www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/TNECMT. Each sponsorship goes toward a fresh balsam veteran’s wreath that will be placed on the headstone of an American hero as we endeavor to honor all veterans laid to rest on Saturday, December 14, 2024, as part of National Wreaths Across America Day.