Buford Chapter sends 600 mini flags to American military personnel

HUNTINGTON -- Soldiers thousands of miles away can carry a piece of Huntington in their pocket, thanks to the efforts of the Buford Chapter of the National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution.

The chapter met Saturday at the Cabell County Public Library to fold 600 miniature American flags to send to troops on the front line of battle.

"I heard one time that our troops can be targeted if they have an American flag that shows," said Barbara Rutledge of Proctorville. "With these flags, it allows them to have a flag that doesn't show, and they can carry a little piece of home with them."

The craft is part of the national Pocket Flag Project, which has the goal of getting as many flags as possible into the pockets of American military personnel on the front lines.

"This is a great way to let our troops know they're thought of at home, and it keeps with our motto of 'God, home and country,'" said Jane Sawyers, Project Patriot committee chair for the Buford DAR chapter. "We're going to do this more often and get the word out because I think it's an important project."

Saturday's flags were planned for shipment to a DAR member's grandson serving on the front lines overseas. Sawyers said community members with suggestions for military members to ship the pocket flags to could email bufordchapternsdar@aol.com. Sawyers also said there are lots of little things people can do to let U.S. soldiers know they're being remembered.

"One of the easiest things to do is collect manufacturer coupons, expired or not, and send them directly to military bases. The manufacturers will honor them for six months after expiration," Sawyers said. "That's something anybody can do easily by going online and finding an address to ship to."

Saturday's DAR program also included the American Legion Post 16's Americanism program and the signing of a banner that will be sent to injured troops in Germany.

"This is support for our family, our troops, to show them that even though they're thousands of miles away, they're not forgotten," Sawyers said. "We care, and we love them and appreciate the sacrifice they and their families have made for our freedom."

Follow H-D reporter Beth Hendricks on Facebook or Twitter @BethHendricksHD.