FLAGS
FOR VETERANS
THEY
SERVE UNDER THE FLAG
THEY SACRIFICE FOR THE FLAG
THEY
LIVE FOR THE FLAG
THEY DIE FOR THE FLAG
THEIR
COFFIN IS DRAPED WITH THE FLAG
THEY ARE OUR VETERANS
THIS
IS THEIR FLAG
Flags For Veterans is dedicated to giving the gift of the greatest American symbol to the men and women who defend it.
You can send a care package to our troops as a way of saying "Thank you" and they will greatly appreciate it. However, a pack of Oreos will last a day, a flag will last a lifetime. A 5'x 9.5' flag is a gift that each Veteran will be able to take to the grave with them and their family can honor them long after.
Flags may be donated in any size, 3' X 5' and 5' X 9.5' (casket sized flag) are the prefereable sizes. Your donation can be specified for a Veteran from any service, from any era, or donated to any Veteran. If you would like your flag donated to any particular Veteran or a Veteran from a particluar campaign, state or service, please click the link below to email us. If you are a Veteran who would like a flag, please email us at FlagsForVeterans@gmail.com. If you'd like to mail in a check, email there as well.
Got questions about the flag? Check out our FAQ
To help raise money to give the gift of American Flags to our Veterans, we
are holding a 50/50 raffle. The drawing will be on Veteran's Day with one
lucky winner taking home half of the money raised. Several other prizes will
be raffled off including those listed here. To purchase
tickets online, click the "Donate Other Ammount" button below and
enter the ammount you would like. Your tickets will be mailed to you.
1 Ticket - $1
6 Tickets - $5
12 Tickets - $10
25 Tickets - $20
Donate 3' X 5' Flag
Donate 5' X 9.5' Flag
Donate 3' X 5' Flag Case
Donate 5' X 9.5' Flag Case
Donate Other Ammount
HOW WE GOT STARTED
In 2003, a Marine Lance Corporal named Ronnie was injured in Iraq when a roadside
bomb detonated as the Hummer carrying his fire team drove past. When the commotion
and mayhem had finally subsided, Ronie was the only member of his fire team
alive. Regaining conciousness, Ronnie found both of his legs to be a mangled
unrecognizable mess. While the Corpsmen were able to save his life, the trauma
teams were unable to save his legs and both were amputated mid thigh. Due
to severe nerve damage, he was told that while he could be fitted for prosthetics,
he would never be able to walk again.
Not being one to accept such negative news, Ronnie fought, yelled, screamed and threw bedpans until one day a doctor finally appeared in the doorway to his hospital room, introduced himself and said, "I'm here to make you walk." After many months of testing, treatment and physical therapy, Ronnie was fitted for his new legs and was wearing them on a more regular basis, although still not walking yet.
Word had reached Ronnie's small hometown in Nebraska about his injuries and his struggles to recover. Wanting to do something to help the young Marine get through a tough time in his life and enlistment, many had sent cards, care packages and phone cards. While they were appreciated, they did little to help ease the worst trauma Ronnie had; the mental pain in losing his fire team, his best friends.
Not wanting to do just the same old things, employees at Ronnie's bank of more than 15 years decided they wanted to try and think of something unique to help encourage him and lift his spirits. They took up a collection from each employee and purchased a 5' X 9.5' flag and gave it to a VFW representative known to them and was also a friend to Ronnie. The flag was properly folded into its triangle shape and flown to Bethesda. When the VFW representative presented the flag to Ronnie, it was grasped in a very tight bear hug and hung his head, cheek resting on one folded side.
That day, more than a year after Ronnie had lost the use of his legs in an incident that would continue to haunt him, he was finally able to let go. Tears finally flowed down his cheeks as he expressed his emotions that had been held in since that fateful day. Always being there for those who serve and protect her, Old Glory dutifully caught each tear that rolled her way.
After taking the time he needed, he finally looked up at his friend who had brought him the flag and spoke with a newfound steadyness in his voice when he was told that no one thought the gift of an American Flag would mean so much.
"This isnt America's flag. Each star is one of my brothers in arms. Each stitch is something that I did, each stripe a mission or deployment. The blue is the same as my dress blue trousers, the white the clouds my pride in this country has soared through and the red the blood I lost that day. This isn't America's flag. This," he said gesturing with the flag, "This is MY flag."
Ronnie swung his legs out of his bed and hesitantly put his weight on them. Holding back any help with a simple hand gesture, he still held on tightly to his flag and did what more than half a dozen doctors had said he would never be able to do.
Ronnie walked from his room.
He walked to the nurses station where the doctors were huddled in a shift meeting between the on-going and off-going shifts. To the shock of all but one person present, Ronnie spoke with new found authority.
"Only one of you had faith in me. Only one of you deserves your medical license. I'm a MARINE, and this is my flag."
Ronnie turned and walked back to his room, followed in short order by the one person on the medical staff who knew he could do it.
Ronnie, elated but exhausted and hurting, dropped back onto his bed and after being given medication to treat the pain, finally enjoyed his first sleep without the horrible nightmares of his trauma.
Flags For Veterans is dedicated to giving the gift of the true American symbol to our nations Veterans who are willing to sacrifice anything and everything.
They are our Veterans.
This is their flag.
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