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Writer's pictureTim Crawford

Veterans Day Flag Retirement - Community Thanksgiving - Hearing Clinic Joy & Passion - Sharing Honors, Blesses & Enables

The Friday Finish – November 15, 2024

Flag Retirement Ceremony Highlights Veterans Day

Red Bird Christian School’s Civil Air Patrol (CAP) program played an important and meaningful role in celebrating and honoring Veterans Day. Last year, performing the “Missing Man” ceremony honored those missing around all family tables. For this year, Major Danny Adams had a great idea to honor Veterans Day – a flag retirement ceremony


Major Adams and his cadets presented Principal Wilder and Red Bird Christian School a brand new American flag to respectfully replace the old flag that flew proudly almost 40 years at the school. What happened to the old flag, you may ask? The Civil Air Patrol choose to dispose of the American Flag in a respectful manner. The United States Flag Code states, "The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning."


On Monday morning, Major Danny Kelton Adams led his squadron into the Flag Retirement Ceremony. From the very beginning, the entire school - family, friends, everyone watching - was mesmerized. Walking proudly side by side, each step in sync before “Halt!”, and then “Attention!” As the ceremony began with an opening prayer by John Lundy, Cadet Members Smallwood and Adams welcomed all with a speech discussing the importance of the American Flag and the reasons for retirement. 


“My red stripes symbolize the blood spilled in defense of this glorious nation. My white stripes symbolize the burning tears shed by Americans who lost their sons in battle. My blue field represents God's Heaven under which I fly my stars, clustered together, unify the fifty states as one for God and Country. I am ‘Old Glory’ and I proudly wave on high.”


As each flag was presented, Cadet Wilson placed them in a pit of fire followed by a slow, respectful salute. He stood steadfast, paying respects as the flames burned bright. As everyone stood in silence, Nate Smallwood (music instructor) and three band students played “taps.” The atmosphere was quiet, the air was cool, and many eyes were filled with tears. This was an event that no one had ever seen or experienced before at Red Bird Christian School.


The entire audience applauded, admiring the ceremony and CAP students. Ashlyn Adams said,

“I felt like it showed respect for all the veterans. I learned how to dispose of a flag properly. I loved how they played taps; it was beautiful. It made me proud to be an American and I would love to be a part of CAP.”

Civil Air Patrol cadets were proud of themselves and their dedication to make the ceremony special.

“I felt honored to be a part of the ceremony and I really liked how it made people feel. I liked the formal setting, the publicity, and the respect of the ceremony. I felt like I was involved in something very important.”

Another cadet responds with her love for this class and program,

“CAP is very important to me; it has helped me in becoming a leader. It doesn't feel like a class; it feels like a family.” 



Community Thanksgiving Begins at the School

Roast turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy! Oh my! On Wednesday, students and staff at Red Bird Christian School celebrated Thanksgiving by inviting parents, friends and families to come together at the cafeteria table to eat Thanksgiving Dinner. Most students were expecting their relatives, but also shocked to see a grandparent, an uncle or cousin who wanted to surprise them. The smiles, the hugs, and being in the presence of “family” filled everyone's hearts.


The cooks graciously filled each tray with a smile on their faces. A lot of “Thank you!” was said, and a lot of pictures were taken. All were kind and patient with one another, and thankful to be together at the same place at the same time at Red Bird Christian School.


Preparations are also being made at Community Outreach for special Thanksgiving box distributions. Families and individuals in the Family to Family and Gap Pantry food programs will pick up those special foods that make a Thanksgiving extra special in our American culture. Tracy Nolan said that 150 Clay County families were chosen from Red Bird’s Commodity and TFAP Pantry lists to receive a food box through another organization in the county seat of Manchester.


Hearing Clinic Covered with Prayers for Joy and Passion

The Community Outreach hallways have seen a flurry of activity this week as an audiology

team of 11 from the University of Cincinnati have conducted screenings and equipment checks for dozens of area residents experiencing hearing loss. Each day, the group took time to gather and center themselves with prayer for joy and passion in their service.


The team included 2 audiologists and associate professors Brian Earl PhD, CCC-A, FAAA and Kelli McGuire, Au.D, CCC-A, and 9 audiology students here for a two-day clinic yesterday and today. Not only are they diagnosing and referring for further treatment, but they take on the responsibility to raise funds to help purchase needed hearing aids for those that have no means of buying them. The team also funds their travel to and stay here at the Mission.


Sharing Honors, Blesses and Enables

This week’s articles highlight how the people of Red Bird Mission and Red Bird Clinic honor our nation, count blessings among the Red Bird family, and enable those with hearing loss to fully participate with their community again. You might be thinking that those physically present at Red Bird were the only people doing the honoring, blessing and enabling after reading this week’s “Friday Finish”, but it takes literally thousands of individuals and organizations to make these events reality. The free clinics and food distributions can take place because individuals and organizations give general support to keep Red Bird Mission, Inc., and Red Bird Clinic, Inc., here for community needs.


During the month of November, we are bringing awareness to Giving Tuesday, a worldwide day of charitable giving that follows all the spending on Black Friday weekend and Cyber Monday. The calendar date for Giving Tuesday this year is December 3rd, but we’re promoting the day through our communication this month with plans for some live streaming through the day on Giving Tuesday.


You can plan to make your gift on Giving Tuesday, or you can give this month. Follow the links in the articles to give online, or mail your check to Red Bird Mission, Inc., 70 Queendale Ctr, Beverly, KY 40913 marked “Giving Tuesday”. You may designate your gift to a particular program or department, or leave it undesignated so that it touches all of Red Bird.



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