(Seguin) – Old Glory will not go unnoticed on this Flag Day holiday. In fact, it’s pretty difficult to not notice the Stars and Stripes this week as Seguin continues its hosting of the annual Field of Honor along State Highway 123 Bypass.
As part of its weeklong festivities, the local Field of Honor committee along with its partners at Faith Lutheran Church will be hosting a flag retirement ceremony this evening. The community is invited to bring their faded and tattered flags for retirement. The ceremony gets underway at 6:30 p.m. at the Field of Honor site.
Following the ceremony, the public will be treated to hot dogs, chips, and drinks courtesy of Seguin’s HEB.
Celebrating Seguin’s hosting of the sea of almost 1,000 flags across the church lawn is Seguin Mayor Donna Dodgen. Dodgen shared her words of appreciation during the group’s opening ceremonies held on Saturday.
“It’s just amazing. People talk about this event, talk about the flags and so I really think that as a community, anything we can do to help and rally around it (would be great). It’s just amazing. It shows our community pride and gratefulness to those who serve, and we need to honor those who thought of this as a great idea. It came as I think a thought from someone who had a family member in the military – a couple of people got together and thought of it (bringing it to Seguin) and it just came to fruition. So, it’s wonderful. Please support. Please tell your family and friends to support and I want to thank you all for being here and to talk about what a great place that we live in whether it be city, county or our wonderful United States,” said Dodgen.
Dodgen also asked that residents everyday remain proud of the American flag. In fact, Dodgen who today is in Canada to support a local team of city employees competing at the Hydrant Hysteria National Competition in Toronto, Canada laughed and even added that she for sure would be donning her red, white and blue (dress) paraphernalia just as the Seguin community has come to expect.
Also following the retirement ceremony, the public is encouraged to gather for the daily playing of Taps at 7 p.m.
There is also plenty of time to still purchase a 3×5, 7.5 foot tall American Flag as part of this year’s Field of Honor event. The flags are to be purchased in memory of or in honor of military personnel, veterans or first responders. Flags can be purchased online at healingfield.org/event/seguintx23/ or by calling 830-243-2872. At the end of the event, all purchased flags can be picked up and taken home. Proceeds from the event benefit the American Legion Post #245.
Closing ceremonies are slated for 10 a.m. Saturday. The Field of Honor is located on the Faith Lutheran Church lawn located across from Seguin High School at 1326 E. Cedar St.