Replacements already were prepped
By Kevin Spradlin
PeeDeePost.com
Daniel Beavers will retire in April with 20 years in the U.S. Army. Currently stationed at Camp Mackall, the Special Forces sergeant first class knows what the United States flag stands for.
Submitted photo
On a regular basis, Beavers takes his partner’s daughter to school at the Richmond County Ninth Grade Academy. A couple of weeks ago, what he saw surprised him. The U.S. flag flown on the flagpole in front of the former elementary school on County Home Road was torn, nearly beyond recognition.
It was, said Jenny Cobbler Shoe, “a disgrace.”
“I’m ashamed,” she told The Pee Dee Post.
Beavers was more diplomatic. He recognized that many of Richmond Senior High School’s JROTC cadets might be freshmen and “that also wouldn’t be repenting a very good image” for the unit.
Beavers said Shoe sent a message through Facebook to the school’s Facebook page. They hoped a teacher or administrator would take it from there. It didn’t work.
“Nothing,’ Beavers said was the school’s initial response. “A week, week and a half later, I said can’t believe they haven’t fixed that flag. After they had a message, you would think a school principal, a vice principal, would have noticed it … put it on a higher priority.”
The American flag was torn and shredded nearly in two. According to a Congressional Research Service report, the U.S. flag should be replaced “when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display.” Flags no longer fit for display are to be disposed of “in a dignified way, preferably by burning.” In Richmond County, the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4203 serves as a collection point for old flags. The flags are then taken by American Legion Post 147 and destroyed in a proper ceremony.
Stephanie Spradlin | PeeDeePost.com
NGA Principal Pam Patterson said Wednesday morning she never received a Facebook message. It was brought to administrators’ attention Wednesday morning by another parent, Wayne Stevens. Stevens made his issue known and was quickly told that a replacement flag already was prepared for replacement. Stevens stuck around and took the old flag home to ensure proper disposal.
A school staff member, Patterson said, “already had the (new) flag laid out” before Stevens came in.
“We also changed out the North Carolina flag,” Patterson said.
She said she’s disappointed she didn’t see a message through Facebook and noted the school’s use of social media began earlier this academic year. It’s still taking some getting used to , she said.
“I would definitely respond to that,” Patterson said. “We take that very seriously.”
Stephanie Spradlin | PeeDeePost.com
The school generally receives flags donated by various organizations or businesses. The new flag, 3 feet high by 5 feet wide, was donated by by Modern Woodmen of America.
Patterson said the flag replaced today lasted about a year.
