On June 16, guests ranging in age from one to ninety-seven traveled rural 1600 West in Lewiston, Utah to attend a fundraiser where children were selling hand-made bracelets and lemonade. Some came by foot; others arrived via bicycles, golf carts, strollers, cars, trucks, and even tractors in order to raise money for a new American flag.

The event was hosted by eight-year-old Jace Buttars and his sister, five-year-old Ashlyn. Their desire to hold the fundraiser began when their grandmother pointed at the American flag, on the pole in front of the local church building and said, “Tattered flags make me sad.”

“You’re not supposed to fly a flag like that,” Jace said, gazing at the red and white stripes flapping in the wind like shredded crepe paper. “We should get a new one. How much does a flag cost?”

“I can make bracelets and sell them to earn money,” Ashlyn said.

“And we can sell lemonade,” Jace added.
Their mother put notice of the fundraiser on Facebook and people spread the word. The red, white, and blue bracelets sold out quickly, but replenished pitchers of lemonade lasted the hour. And the final result? There was money, a generous amount contributed by family, friends, neighbors and strangers to buy a new flag.

Each of those who helped with the fundraiser can appreciate the new flag. The lasting benefit, however, is the example Jace and Ashlyn shared with their community to honor the symbol of our nation. May Jace’s simple words, “You shouldn’t fly a flag like that,” be a reminder to all of us that every American flag should fly in splendor.

Robyn Buttars is an award winning author of four novels.