Military group donates American flag to elementary school

Published 12:03 am Tuesday, September 5, 2017

MILLBRIDGE — Under a clear blue sky, a group of more than a dozen people gathered Monday at Millbridge Elementary School to hoist a new American flag.

The flag was donated by the Piedmont Military Vehicle Preservation Association, which is based in Rowan County.

Gathering for a small ceremony were members of the association, Millbridge Elementary School Principal Jordan Baker, a few children who attend the school and family members.

Baker said Millbridge Elementary’s previous American flag had become worn. At first, Baker asked the military vehicle association about a way to dispose of the old flag. Instead, the group volunteered to give a new flag to the school.

Members of the association drove several of their vehicles to Millbridge Elementary, parked them around the flag pole and allowed the children to help hoist the flag above the school.

Baker said fifth-graders at Millbridge Elementary will raise the flag each morning just before school starts.

Don Shupe, president of the military vehicle association, said the group has about 40 members. The association’s vehicles are privately owned and date from World War II to the present.