Lehigh County Veterans Affairs Assistant Director Viola Hertzog is asking the help of the community to donate casket flags to fly as part of the Avenue of Flags at Indiantown Gap, Annville, PA.

The idea to begin this collection began last December after a request from a neighboring county’s Veterans Affairs director was contacted by the cemetery asking for interment flags near Carbon County.

Carbon County Director Hank Desrosiers challenged other County Directors offices in the Eastern District area of Pennsylvania to ask for the support of the community to donate casket flags.

Families can donate flags to Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, where they will fly that flag proudly between Memorial Day and Veterans Day.

Indiantown Gap National Cemetery has flagpoles designed to fly casket flags, which are 5 1/2 feet by 9 feet. This display is called the Avenue of Flags, a patriotic display that begins at the main entrance of the cemetery and winds its way through the final resting place of thousands of United States veterans, and commemorates the fallen and pays homage to those who served this country.

At one time, the cemetery had hundreds of interment flags donated for this purpose, but over the years donations dwindled to just a few.

What a tribute to honor a loved one then to have his/her flag fly in a national cemetery where thousands of veterans are buried.

Lehigh County is currently a collection site for these flags and will bring them to the cemetery in Annville before Memorial Day.

If families would like to donate a loved one’s casket flag, they can contact the office of Lehigh County Veterans Affairs, located in the Government Center at 17 South Seventh Street, Allentown, at 610-782-3295.

Flags must be in good condition and must be a casket flag due to the size specifications.

 

Information Provided By:
Viola C. Hertzog, Assistant Director
Lehigh County Veterans Affairs
17 South Seventh Street
Allentown, PA 18101
www.lehighcounty.org

 

 

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