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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 2, 2008

Contact: Julie Waters
(502) 966-8049

usps.com/news

AMVETS, Postal Service Hold Flag Retirement

More than 2,000 Flags Retired Since 2004

LOUISVILLE, KY — The Okolona Post Office and AMVETS are teaming up for an American flag retirement ceremony on Flag Day.

The event gets underway at 1 p.m., Saturday, June 14 at AMVETS Post 61, 9405 Smyrna Road. It is expected to last approximately three hours.

In 2007, AMVETS retired more than 600 flags. This year, the group expects to receive between 600 and 1,000 flags for retirement.

“Before the program began, we saw a real need in the community for a way for people to respectfully retire their worn and torn flags,” said Okolona supervisor Julie Waters. “So we met with AMVETS’ officials. Now the flag retirement is held every year on Flag Day.”

The event started in 2004 by then Okolona Station Manager Richard Curtsinger. Since then, more than 2,000 flags have been retired.

Anyone wishing to retire a worn or torn flag should send it to:

Okolona Post Office
c/o Julie Waters
7400 Jefferson Blvd.
Louisville, KY 40219

Only American flags will be accepted, and they must arrive no later than Friday, June 13.

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