Did you know that the State of Arkansas has a program whereby military members, veterans, ROTC or other patriotic citizens are requested to present a flag education class to every fifth grader in the State of Arkansas every year?
This program is fully supported by the governor and the Arkansas Director of Education. Arkansas veterans’ organizations donate the money to print educational flag handouts. The program is administered by the Arkansas Department of Veterans’
Affairs which in turn delegates the responsibility to the Veterans’ Services Officer (VSO) in every county.
Eight years ago Col. (Ret.) Jim Elmer learned that Pulaski County fifth graders were not receiving flag education. As a member of the Military Order of the World Wars, a patriotic veterans’ organization started in 1919, he determined that this was unacceptable and volunteered the Central Arkansas Chapter of MOWW to be responsible for the schools in Pulaski County.
Each year, at the request of the Arkansas Veterans’ Affairs Office, the number of schools supported has increased. By the end of 2009 more than 6,000 fifth-grade students in 75 schools will have received flag education. As of Dec. 4, only three schools remain. Special kudos go to retired Tech. Sgt. Bill Albright who personally completed classes for 2,015 students in 2009.
However, we need volunteers. The number of students has become so large that two or three instructors can no longer handle the workload. The program is so important it must be perpetuated.
Teaching the classes is very simple. Handout materials as well as a lesson plan are provided. The beauty of being a flag education class presenter is that you walk out from a class knowing you’ve done something to support the freedoms we all enjoy.
While the flag education classes in Pulaski County are complete for this year, please seriously consider joining the program in 2010. Come and observe a class and you’ll be hooked. If you are interested and live in Pulaski County, please contact Jim Elmer at 771-4106 or by e-mail at jimelmer@swbell.net. For other counties please contact your county Veterans’ Services Officer.
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