Local Memorial Day weekend inaugurations include 756 American Flags for our Heroes

A few years ago, the Montgomery Village and Gaithersburg Rotary clubs became one, and the combined clubs are carrying on a more than 10-year-old tradition over Memorial Day weekend. On Saturday, May 23, at 11 a.m. in Bohrer Park, 506 South Frederick Avenue in Gaithersburg (next to Gaithersburg High School), the club and the City of Gaithersburg will auaugurate a huge display of 756 American flags, and local dignitaries and patriotic entertainment will be included. 

This will be followed by a second ceremony at a Peace Pole in the park to promote peace on earth. Installed in 2015, the Peace Pole is a small monument that displays the message, “May Peace Prevail on Earth,” in eight languages. More than 200,000 Peace Poles have been planted in about 180 countries.

This annual flag display is named “Flags for our Heroes” because most are sponsored by firms and individuals. They honor active and former military personnel and any others who a sponsor wants to recognize. Each flag is tagged with the names of the sponsor and the honoree.

The display will be free and open to the public, day and night from Friday, May 22 through the morning of Memorial Day, Monday, May 25. At night, the display will be lighted and guarded by Scouting America and Girl Scouts of the USA.

At dusk on Sunday, May 24, a group of scouts will conduct a Flag Retirement Ceremony that will include the ceremonial burning of tattered and dirty Americal flags. People who have flags that are no longer usable may contribute them to be properly destroyed.

The Rotary Club of Gaithersburg has served the community since 1966. Its goals are in line with those of Rotary International – building peace and preventing conflict; preventing and treating disease; improving water, sanitation, and hygiene; improving maternal and child health; enhancing basic education and literacy; and fomenting economic development. For more information about these events, contact Ken Weiss at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 301-219-3098.