Every morning, a group of seniors walk outside of the Carr Center building on Beverly Avenue to say the Pledge of Allegiance. It’s not a mandatory activity required by the center, but rather a ritual that every senior and staff member willingly partakes in. A ritual to honor the people who fought for their country.

The Carr Center is taking the opportunity to give back to the community that keeps them running through a new program that honors those who fought for the nation.

Often times, as people get older, they become less involved in a community that they were once active members of. To get seniors that visit the Carr Center re-involved in the community, the center is embarking on a journey to replace weathered flags in the community and provide proper etiquette on how to fold an American Flag.

The Flag Exchange Project was an idea brought about by the Director of Nursing at the Carr Center, Marty Gamble. He presented the idea to Executive Director Kimberly Baker Hosler, who loved the idea.

“I am a veteran of 18 years, so the flag is near and dear to my heart,” Gamble said.

Last week, Gamble began approaching local businesses in the community to help fund the initiative. Being that the Carr Center is a nonprofit organization, the staff needs some extra help with the budget for the exchange.

American Pride Power Equipment, The Sport’s Barber, Ron’s Tire Town and Gamble’s Towing Company are all businesses in the community that have pledged to sponsor the program.

“I don’t worry so much about the corporate businesses that are like all over the United States, but the hometown businesses … the only reason they’re in business is because of that flag. We wouldn’t be free if it wasn’t for that flag,” Gamble said.

The goal is for staff and seniors to travel around Muskingum County and identify torn or tattered flags and replace them with new ones.

People in the community are also able to bring in their old flags to the Carr Center or American Pride to exchange them for a new one, free of charge.

Seniors and staff are hoping to raise $2,500 to spend on new replacement flags for the community. While the project is simply in the fundraising stage at the moment, seniors and staff of the Carr Center are hoping to begin replacing flags by November for Veteran’s Day.

“War has a different connotation for us now,” Baker Holser said. “So, we tend to not be concerned about what it is they (veterans) gave because we don’t have that understanding of the sacrifice they made for us.”

This civic initiative does not come in just one part. The second component that Gamle is undertaking consists of posing a challenge to other local businesses in the area. A challenge to employers in the community to pledge the flag every morning.

“If I can get 70, 80, 90 year-old people up off their butts and take them outside to do the pledge, 20-somethings that work in these buildings can go out and do the pledge too, if their employers would allow that,” Gamble said.

Individuals and businesses interested in donating to the Flag Exchange Program can donate through the program’s Facebook Page or by calling the Carr Center. People who may be opposed to donating money are also able to purchase and donate “Made in America,” all-weather flags to the center.

While the Carr Center is a nonprofit organization, all donations raised for the program will be put back into the community in the form of new American Flags.