Honor Memorial Day: Swap Your Worn Flag for Free in Bucks County

Prior to this Memorial Day, in Bucks County, residents were able to swap a worn or tattered flag for free. Memorial Day is held on the last Monday in May. It honors the military personnel who died while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. The flag exchange program this year was specific to Bucks County residents. Residents could exchange their old flags for new ones at Bucks County Sheriff’s Office locations in Doylestown, Levittown, and Quakertown.

Flag exchange program

The Sheriff’s Office partnered with Parx Casino in the Making Old Glory New Again program. Residents of Bucks County were able to exchange old or worn American flags for a free 3” by 5” new flag. Parx Casino in Bensalem is the largest casino in Pennsylvania and is known for supporting community efforts such as this one in Bucks County.

Sheriff Fred Harran said the partnership with Parx Casino meant the Sheriff’s Office could help residents to ensure their flags were a fitting tribute to the fallen heroes on Memorial Day. Displaying a well-maintained flag is a simple but powerful way to show their gratitude and respect.

Sheriff Harran and his team took in the old flags at the three locations and were responsible for properly retiring them according to federal guidelines. They ensured that they treated the old flags in a respectful and dignified way.

Flying the flag

The U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs says that the flag should be flown at half-staff from sunrise until noon. After this it should be raised briskly to the top of the staff until sunset in honor of the nation’s battle heroes.

Memorial Day history

Every generation, from the Civil War to both World Wars and the Korean and Vietnam wars, has had fallen heroes. In the late 1860s, following the Civil War, it became customary to pay tribute to the fallen soldiers in the spring. People would recite prayers and decorate graves with flowers. This is why the day was originally known as Memorial Day. Over time the sacrifices of soldiers in other wars were also honored.

In 1868 a “Memorial Day Order” made the holiday a formal one and in 1971 Congress declared Memorial Day a national holiday. It decided to have the holiday on the last Monday in May to make it a three-day weekend.

Memorial Day today

The summer season in the U.S. starts unofficially on Memorial Day. The long weekend gives families an opportunity to get together and do some outdoor activities such as barbequing. Government offices and banks close, and schools aren’t in session. Many businesses close, too, although some major retailers stay open and offer special deals.

For some people, much of the day’s significance has been lost over the years. Others regard the day as one of the most significant holidays of the year. Unsurprisingly, the holiday is seen as more important among those who served in the military or lost someone in the conflict. Anyone who has served does not want fallen soldiers to be forgotten.

Visiting a cemetery is one of the ways to participate in Memorial Day. Volunteers will place flowers or flags on the graves. The President usually visits Arlington National Cemetery, where, through the years, presidents and vice presidents have laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Many small towns and cities across the U.S. host parades on Memorial Day. It’s a way for residents to show some community spirit and appreciation for those who died in service. Bodies of those who died lie in almost every village, city, and churchyard in the country.

This day is different from Veterans Day, which honors everyone who served in the armed forces. Veteran’s Day focuses mainly on living veterans. A nationwide moment of silence at 3 pm gives Americans another way to honor every fallen soldier who sacrificed their lives in service of the country.