In an effort to teach the importance and symbolism of the American flag, as well as the significant role played by those who stand in the gap to protect our freedoms here in the United States of America, Military Missions Inc launched the second annual Raising the Flag Competition for the 2010-2011 school year. The competition takes place twice yearly, once during the fall semester, and again during the spring semester of each school year.
Any student group or school is eligible to compete in Raising the Flag. Students from participating schools are asked to bring in donations which will be used to fill care packages being sent to deployed troops.
The school group bringing in the highest count of donated items is declared the winner of the competition. Winning schools are recognized with an American flag flown in their honor at an American military base overseas.
Winners for the 2010-2011 school year were as follows:
High School Division – Lexington Day Treatment Center, Lexington Kentucky
Elementary School Division – Bourbon Central Elementary School, Paris Kentucky.
Preschool Division – Creative Kingdom-Millpond Center, Lexington, Kentucky
The winners were recognized at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan. This year Kentucky National Guard Agribusiness Development Team 2 flew flags in honor of each of the winning schools. Each school was presented with their flag by CW4 Stuart Lindfors of the Kentucky National Guard.
Fall 2009 winners were recognized at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan, as well. Flags were flown in honor of the fourth grade class taught by Mrs. Abby Thomas at Garden Spring Elementary in Lexington, Kentucky, and the fifth grade class taught by Ellen Butler at Northside Elementary in Midway, Kentucky. The Kentucky National Guard Agribusiness Development Team 1(KY ADT) worked with Military Missions Inc. to honor these students and their schools for their dedication to supporting deployed troops.
Staff Sergeant Catherine Corson, a member of KY ADT, raised the flags flown at Bagram Air Base and then had the privilege of presenting the flags to the winning classrooms while recently home for a two week leave. Fourth grade students at Garden Springs Elementary were able to help SSG Corson raise the flag on their school’s flag pole after the presentation.
“Raising the Flag is a creative way to get people motivated to donate items to fill care packages,” said Beth Pennington, founder of Military Missions Inc. “We send care packages to deployed troops on a monthly basis.” As a former school teacher, Pennington thought it would be a great way to teach the history, symbolism, and importance of our nation’s flag, as well as create awareness for support needed by those serving in our Armed Forces.
Unless a child is directly related to a soldier who is serving, students may not realize the impact military service can have on families and the importance of the jobs of those protecting our freedoms here in the USA.
PHOTOS
Raising the Flag – Lexington Day Treatment Center
Raising the Flag – Bourbon Central Elementary
Raising the Flag – Creative Kingdom-Millpond
VIDEOS
Raising the Flag – Northside Elementary
PRESS RELEASES
PR Sept 2010 MILITARY MISSIONS INC Raising the Flag
PR Spring 2010 MILITARY MISSIONS INC Raising the Flag
