Flag Donation

The pictured flag came from the White House where it had been previously flown.  It was donated by Senator Claiborne Pell with the following tribute “Long May the Flag Fly in the Winds of Freedom”.

 

Did you know that the White House changes its American Flag all day long every single day? Similarly, Quidnessett Memorial Cemetery continually raises the donated flags of Veterans resting within the gates.  The tradition began at the cemetery in 1962 when Jesse Arnold Whaley, an Army Infantry WWI Veteran who had been blinded in France during the war, donated the first flagpole and obtained its first White House flag through State Representative John E. Fogarty.

Today all flags flown on the main flagpole are actual Veterans flags generously donated to the cemetery by surviving family members.  As of 2010, the cemetery has over 1,350 Veterans buried within the cemetery,  but under a dozen donated flags left.

If you would like to donate a Veteran’s flag and have us continue commemorating your loved one’s military service by flying their flag on the main flag pole on special occasions, we would be greatly honored to do so.   Upon receipt of the Veteran’s flag, we will permanently mark their name on the Header of the Flag and send you a Veteran Flag Donor Certificate along with our deep appreciation.