Flag Tribute to Veterans


	American Legion Edwin T. Stiles Post #153 (Point and click on title for map directions.) PO Box 265 110 E. Walker Street Saint Johns, MI 48879 989.224.7282 Point and click on any picture on this web site for a larger view of the picture.

Mission Statement

The St. Johns American Legion's Flag Tribute to Veterans purpose is to receive, care for and display veteran American flags in the Mount Rest Cemetery on at lease six veteran related holidays, national remembrance days and/or local days of celebration.

How Do I Donate a Flag for My Veteran?

Area families of fallen or deceased veterans can donate their casket American Flag to the “Flag Tribute to Veterans” program, to be displayed on designated flag days in the Mount Rest Cemetery in St. Johns, Michigan. The cost to purchase a Flag, Pole, and Hardware is $100. Please make the check payable to "American Legion Post 153" and in the memo column write "Flag Fund".
     Currently we have 596 flag holes at Mount Rest Cemetery and we have 615 flags. As damaged flags are pulled from circulation for repairs, other flags are placed in the display, so all flags are flown. The Committee Chairman for the “Flag Tribute to Veterans” is Judy Winslow.
     We do allow families to mark the flag pole with the veteran's name for family identification.
     For flag donation or questions of the “Flag Tribute to Veterans” program, you can contact the following American Legion staff.
          Post Commander, American Legion 153 Ervin Currie 989-292-5322
     or
          American Legion 153 Hall, between 3 P.M. and 10 P.M. 989-224-7282
     or
          email americanlegion153@yahoo.com

More about the “Flag Tribute to Veterans” program

     Storage and wind action sometimes damage the flags. And we pull those flags and those that are soiled and repair holes and tears and clean the flags. If the flag becomes too old, faded, etc., we contact the family for flag return or the family may replace the veteran's flag. The program would prefer nylon coffin flags. The American Legion does have an American flag disposal program, there is a red mail box in front of the Post for flag collection.
     “Flag Tribute to Veterans” flags are put up at 8 A.M. by veterans, veteran family members and any other volunteer. Flags come down at 7 P.M. again by volunteers. We maintain four flag wagons for moving and storage of the flags. If bad weather is predicted on the day the flags are scheduled to go up, flags are not put up, we wish not to store over 500 wet flags.
     The number of flag holes in the cemetery are dictated by the Mount Rest Cemetery Board but, hole creation and maintenance is done by the committee and flag volunteers.
     At the cemetery main gate, the “Flag Tribute to Veterans” program also displays flags of the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Merchant Marines, and the POW/MIA flag. Police, Fire Fighters flags are also displayed.

In 2023, flags go up on

Memorial Day - May 29th and 30th this year
Flag Day - June 14th
Independence Day - July 4th
Mint festival - August 12th
Patriots Day - September 11th
Veterans Day - November 11th

Flags up at 8 AM, down at 7 PM (down 5PM on 11/11)

Meaning of Flag Draped Coffin

Did you know that at military funerals, the 21-gun salute stands for the sum of the numbers in the year 1776.
Have you ever noticed the honor guard pays meticulous attention to correctly folding the United States of America Flag 13 times? You might have thought it was to symbolize the original 13 colonies, but we learn something new every day...
- The 1st fold of the flag is a symbol of life.
- The 2nd fold is a symbol of the belief in eternal life.
- The 3rd fold is made in honor and remembrance of the veterans departing the rands who gave a portion of their lives for the defense of the country to attain peace throughout the world.
- The 4th fold represents the weaker nature, for as American citizens trusting in God, it is to Him we turn in times of peace as well as in time of was for His divine guidance.
- The 5th fold is a tribute to the country, for in the words of Stephen Decatur, 'Our Country, in dealing with other countries, may she always be right; but it is still our country, right or wrong.'
- The 6th fold is for where people's hearts lie. It is with their heart that They pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States Of America, and the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all.
- The 7th fold is a tribute to its Armed Forces, for it is through the Armed Forces that they protect their country and their flag against all her enemies, whether they be found within or without the boundaries of their republic.
- The 8th fold is a tribute to the one who entered into the valley of the shadow of death, that we might see the light of day.
- The 9th fold is a tribute to womanhood, and Mothers, for is has been through their faith, their love, loyalty and devotion that the character of the men and women who have made this country great has been molded.
- The 10th fold is a tribute to the father, for he, too, has given his sons and daughters for the defense of their country since they were first born.
- The 11th fold represents the lower portion of the sea of King David and King Solomon and glorifies in the Hebrews eyes, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
- The 12th fold represents an emblem of eternity and glorifies, in the Christians eyes, God the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit.
- The 13th fold, or when the flag is completely folded, the stars are uppermost reminding them of their nations motto, “In God We Trust.”
After the flag is completely folded and tucked in, it takes on the appearance of a cocked hat, ever reminding us of the soldiers who served under General George Washington, and the Sailors and Marines who served under Captain John Paul Jones, who were followed by their comrades and shipmates in the Armed Forces of the United States, preserving for them the rights, privileges and freedoms they enjoy today.
There are some traditions and ways of doing things that have deep meaning. In the future, you'll see flags folded and now you will know why. This information found at the WWII Memorial in Washington D.C.