The Monticello, Minn., Veterans Memorial Plaza at Monticello High School (MHS) athletic complex was officially unveiled to the public in 2017 after four years of planning and work by four MHS graduates and numerous other community members and organizations, including the Monticello American Legion Family. The memorial features a plaque for each branch of the U.S. Armed Forces, three flags, and pavers honoring those who serve or have served.

Since the memorial’s opening, Monticello Unit 260 has donated a set of three flags for the Veterans Memorial twice a year — in honor of Veterans Day in November and in honor and remembrance of veterans for Memorial Day in May. The flags donated feature the American flag, Minnesota state flag, and POW/MIA flag.

In addition to the flags, Unit 260 President Christine Koehn said the Monticello American Legion Family — in cooperation with the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) — take turns hosting a Memorial Day program at the Veterans Memorial Plaza each year. Both The American Legion Family and VFW rotate hosting the ceremony that includes guest speakers, a patriotic music performance by the MHS music department, a luncheon, and presentations from the Honor Guard and Color Guard.  

Koehn also said the Monticello American Legion Family continues to support the memorial when requested for repairs and maintenance, and MHS students volunteer to clean up and plant new shrubs each spring to keep the Veterans Memorial Plaza beautiful.

Tips on starting a flag donation at your local school

Below are some tips on how your unit can make a flag donation to your local school to ensure flags are always in good shape. 

Find support within your school. Build a relationship with a teacher, principal, or coach who will help support the project. In addition, work with your local ALA Junior members or ALA Girls State representatives in the school to get the conversation started. 

Koehn said building those relationships is the first step of any project that’s for the good of the community.
“Once a need arises, we can then reach out and work together, as we did with the Veterans Memorial Plaza,” said Koehn. “It was truly a community event with a Legion Boys State representative and a faculty member starting the conversation.”  

Plan your budget. Koehn said that when the memorial was completed, their unit voted into their yearly budget the needed funds to supply two sets of three flags for the memorial in honor of Memorial Day and Veterans Day. It is important to remember when making unit budgets to support our programs, our veterans, military, and their families, and in this case, supporting the Veterans Memorial Plaza each year, Koehn also advised.

If not budgeted, also consider fundraising activities in your community that can provide the needed funds and materials to support the event. 

Plan a flag ceremony. Setting up a flag ceremony on Veterans Day and Memorial Day is a great way to thank local veterans and showcase the importance of our veterans to our community.

A flag ceremony can involve either the unfolding and raising of a flag or the lowering and folding of a flag. If your post or unit has a Color Guard, it should consist of a flag bearer and an even number of guards — typically four or six — in addition to the caller who runs the ceremony. The size of the Color Guard should depend on how many flags will be in the ceremony for raising or lowering the flag for unfolding or folding, to make sure no flag touches the ground. 

Get approval from the school board. If you aren’t already working with the administration of the school, it is important to get the necessary approval by school leaders so your event can be held within all required guidelines, especially if the plan is to invite members of the community into the school or on school grounds.

Items needed for a flag ceremony
• American flag
• state, organization, or military service flags (optional)
• caller (ceremony leader)
• Color Bearer for each flag used
• 4 to 6 people to be part of the Color Guard
• microphone (if gathering is large)
• printed caller instructions
• patriotic music or poetry (optional)
• Taps recording or live performance (optional)