MCHD recognizes National Flag Day 06.14.2023

June 14, 2023

MCHD recognizes National Flag Day

MOBILE, Ala. — Thanks to the community for filling up the flag retirement box located at the Mobile County Health Department’s (MCHD) Keeler Memorial Building at 251 North Bayou Street in Downtown Mobile. The receptacle was packed to capacity prior to being unloaded today on National Flag Day.

The flags are collected in a joint project involving MCHD and the Mobile Police Department (MPD). In 2018, two decommissioned newspaper boxes from the Press-Register were renovated into receptacles for U.S. flags that need to be retired. The boxes were dedicated on National Flag Day that June.

The project was led by the Fatherhood Initiative. This is a community-based program sponsored by MCHD that is designed to remove the barriers to being an effective parent through evidence-based practices and partnerships with various organizations. The facilitators educate participants throughout Mobile County at the Metro Jail, Desi Career Center, Waterfront Rescue Mission, and other community and faith-based organizations.

The Fatherhood Initiative has been nationally and regionally recognized for the efforts in connecting programs within the judicial and law enforcement community. It works closely with MPD. Curtis Graves, Director of Strategic Initiatives with MPD, also serves part-time as Program Administrator for the Fatherhood Initiative.

In tribute to this partnership, the first retirement box was placed at the MPD Headquarters at 2460 Government Street. The second box was located in the lobby of the Keeler Memorial Building.

Once the boxes are full, the Boy Scouts of America headquarters in Mobile is contacted. A troop is assigned to collect the flags and then conduct a proper flag retirement ceremony.

For MCHD, Boy Scout Troop 113 of Saraland conducts the American Flag Retirement Ceremony. Troop 113 Scoutmaster James Currie is also the Graphic Communication Specialist for MCHD.

Troop 113 previously had three flag retirement boxes placed into the City of Saraland. They are located at Stillwater Church, 415 McKeough Avenue; Saraland VFW Post 7320, 244 Old Telegraph Road; and Saraland Civic Center, 716 Mae Street.