New American flag drop box installed at Manson chamber

MANSON - Manson residents now have a dignified and accessible place to retire their worn or weathered American flags, thanks to a community-driven project led by the Manson American Legion in collaboration with Manson High School, B’s Tees & More, and the Manson Chamber of Commerce.

The new American flag retirement drop box was recently installed at the Chamber’s Visitor Center, mounted on the exterior wall near the entrance. Accessible 24/7, the box is available to anyone looking to dispose of a flag in a respectful and meaningful way.

The idea for the project originated earlier this year when American Legion Post Service Officer Norm Manly approached Manson High School shop teacher Rudy Blomquist with a proposal. Blomquist passed the project to one of his students, who completed the handcrafted box by the end of the school year. The result is a stunning piece featuring a hand-painted American flag on the lid and a deep blue finish, Manly said.

Adding a professional finishing touch, Paul Sears of B’s Tees & More designed and produced a custom metal sign with the Manson American Legion logo. 

Installation was a collaborative effort involving Manly, Chamber Director Timi Starkweather, and Visitor Center Manager Sue Templeton. The trio worked together to select an ideal location for the box, which now stands as a visible symbol of community pride and national respect.

According to the U.S. Flag Code, the proper method for retiring an American flag is through burning in a dignified manner, typically during a formal ceremony. Flags collected in the Manson drop box will be gathered by the Manson American Legion and respectfully retired on Flag Day, June 14.

“This flag box is absolutely beautiful, and we’re thrilled to offer this service to our community,” said Sue Templeton.

The Manson American Legion invites all honorably discharged veterans to attend its monthly meetings, held the first Monday of each month at 7:00 p.m. at the Manson Parks building.

B’s Tees & More LLC, located at 216 Vine Street in Cashmere, WA, contributed to the project’s success. For more information, they can be reached at (509) 423-1969.

Norm Manly contributed to this report.