Texas Legionnaires raise American flag inside a Penske Logistics
A worn 30-foot American flag inside a Penske Logistics Truck Co. location in Fort Worth, Texas, has been replaced with a new one thanks to the efforts of The American Legion.
A flag ceremony was held at the Penske Logistics location Friday, June 7, with Department of Texas District 12 Legionnaires, Penske leadership and employees. The flag was lowered, properly folded and handed to the local Daughters of the American Revolution chapter to be repaired and donated to a school. Then a new one purchased by Penske through Post 467 in Saginaw, Texas, and American Legion Emblem Sales was raised.
“I'm blessed to be in this situation,” said John Kirby, commander of Post 467, who helped orchestrate the flag ceremony after being contacted by department leadership. “It’s really neat and exciting that we are able to raise an American flag in their hub. And it goes in line with The American Legion mission of helping veterans.”
Kirby set up an American Legion membership table for Penske employees who are veterans to learn more about the organization, get connected with a local post, and hear about Department of Veterans Affairs benefits.
“We can now reach a group of their employees that we really want to help out, which is veterans and their family members,” he said. “This is an opportunity to strengthen the bond between The American Legion and Penske at the local level here in Fort Worth and hopefully national.”
Kirby hopes to see other American Legion posts get involved with one of the more than 3,000 Penske Logistics locations to raise an American flag. Penske Operations Manger Melissa Tibbs is working with Kirby to help spearhead this initiative.
“We can supply the flags, we can supply the ceremony,” Kirby said. “It’s an opportunity for us to take an American flag and put it inside the building or outside, depending on how the (Penske) hub wants it. The beauty is that every American Legion post (near a Penske location) can do a membership drive and take care of veterans.”
Flag Day
American Legion Family members who conducted Flag Day events are encouraged to share their stories and photos on Legiontown under the Rally Around the Flag section.