May 24, 2019
By: Dwayne Page
A special tribute to the flag will be featured during Monday’s Memorial Day observance at the county complex.
Active duty and retired members of the 118th Wing of the Tennessee Air National Guard in Nashville will present “Operation Patriotism”, a stirring program which teaches the audience about the history of our Flag and how it came to be what it is today. “Operation Patriotism” takes you on a journey through history for a look at some of the early flags that were part of America’s past followed by a moving narrative from the viewpoint of our national emblem “Old Glory”.
The Five Flag Ceremony includes the Queen Anne Flag from 1707 to the Revolution, Grand Union Flag raised over George Washington’s Headquarters on January 1, 1776, Betsy Ross Flag the first official flag of the new nation, the United States of America on June 14, 1777, Star Spangled Banner flag May 1, 1795 and inspired Francis Scott Key to write our National Anthem, and finally Old Glory April 4th, 1818 the Flag of the United States of America of today.
Don Rigsby, a Senior Master Sergeant now retired from the 118th unit, is the guest speaker for Monday’s program and arranged for “Operation Patriotism” to be presented as part of the Memorial Day observance here.
“I believe it will touch your heart as it has mine as I have been a part of this program for a number of years,” said Rigsby.
“We tell a little about each one of the flags as the stripes and stars have been added down through the years and then we finish the program with a stirring segment about Old Glory, our current flag and what our flag has been through. Part of the program talks about how that the flag has draped coffins of men and women in all the wars as they have been brought back. The flag flies all over the world. I am retired from active duty but when I was overseas in Vietnam in 1968-69 and came back to the United States and got to see that flag flying at the airport where I landed it touched my heart to know I live in a country like this. We need to celebrate the flag and take care of it. It has been treated badly by some over the years but hopefully our patriotism is coming back,” said Rigsby.
The Memorial Day program will be hosted by the American Legion Post #122.
The observance begins at 9:30 a.m. with patriotic music by Susan Hinton followed by a welcome from Commander William Edmonds at 10:00 a.m. and then the presentation of colors and pledge of allegiance by Boy Scout Troop #347.
Rigsby will lead in prayer and a special DCHS Chorus will perform the National Anthem.
Judy Redmon, President of the American Legion Ladies Auxiliary will pay tribute to fallen soldiers with a Memorial Day Remembrance followed by a moment of silence.
Following Rigsby’s remarks as guest speaker, Ronnie Redmon, Adjutant President of the American Legion Post 122 will make closing comments.
The audience will then be asked to gather at the veterans memorial monument outside the courthouse on the south side for the placement of a wreath where Josh Moon will blow taps.