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14th Annual Honor America’s Flag #2

The 14th Annual Honor America’s Flag event, hosted by the Exchange Club of Wilson County and American Legion Post 281, is more than a display — it is a community experience. It is a place for reflection, gratitude, and connection. Walking among the rows of flags is both humbling and inspiring, offering a moment to pause and remember what unites us as Americans.

The display is open to the public at no charge beginning the afternoon of

Thursday 5/21 running through Monday early afternoon 5/25.

Shortly after getting the field put up we had our 1st sponsor to honor one of their heroes!

Thank You Lt. Ronan!

Scroll down for the link to order your flag kit online!

We invite you to visit, reflect, and take part in this meaningful celebration of service, sacrifice, and 250 years of American spirit.

Each flag stands for a life, a sacrifice, a commitment to something greater than self. Behind every flag is a name, a story, and a legacy. Flags may be sponsored to recognize veterans, active-duty service members, first responders, loved ones, or any American whose life reflects patriotism and service.

For 250 years, the Stars and Stripes has symbolized courage, resilience, and unity. It has endured through triumph and trial, reminding us that while times change, our shared ideals remain. As we gather beneath these flags, we are reminded that freedom is not inherited without cost — it is preserved by those willing to serve.

For those that may be interested in sponsoring the event, Click Here, for the order form (printable) which outlines the different sponsorship levels. Additionally, the Colonial Flag Foundation’s website is hosting a page for additional information and online payment methods for sponsors and individuals wanting to honor their heroes.

There are still several slots available for volunteers to help out with the event. Please consider spending a little time helping out and sign up at our next meeting 5/12/26. We need your help.

HAF Coverage #2 #3

This IS our biggest fundraiser of the year

Ladies and Gents, We need your help! Please reply to this email with date(s)/time(s) you can Help.

Please also keep in mind that on Monday 5/25 afternoon we’ll need ALL HANDS to help breakdown.

Please excuse the rough looking chart. I’m not really good at this.

Thursday
5/14/26
Prep Day
Load Trailer
9:00Nancy Britt’s home
Nancy BrittJeff & Sherry MattinglyTerry WardPat UngerPat CostanzoRoger Brugger
Steve IlesPatti WhitmoreJoe ChilandoMason, Nancy’s GrandsonTHANKS TO ALL
Thursday
5/21/26
Rebar and Flag Installation>>>>>>>>BRING
AND
SMALL WORKSLEDGE GLOVESHAMMERS PLEASE
8:15
Transport to field by 0900
Jeff Mattingly
8:00Field Layout
Mike FaoroPat Unger
9:00Installation
5/21/26ALL HANDS ON DECKCounty Sheriff’s CrewPat CostanzoChaz SpampinatoMike FoleyJohn Herko
????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>ThursdayFridaySaturdaySundayMonday
5/21/265/22/265/23/265/24/265/25/26
One Volunteer7:00 – 10:00XXXXXXXXXPat CostanzoJohn HerkoThe ChatfieldsDennis Wilcockson
John Coulter
Two Volunteers10:00 – 14:00Mike FaoroDelmar SmithCarl PuelsJohn Herko????????????
Scott CryerW. Wayne SmithRoger Brugger????????????????????????
Two Volunteers14:00 – 18:00Roger BruggerSteve IlesSteve IlesPatti WhitmoreRemoval & Clean Up begin @ 14:30
????????????Don BarnesJeff Mattingly????????????ALL HANDS ON DECK
One Volunteer18:00 – 22:00Rick Wheeler????????????????????????????????????XXXXXXXXX
————–————–————–————–————–————-————-
Needham’s Drone Show5/25/26Show starts at 20:45
Recruiting Event17:00 – 20:15Patti Whitmore
Come hang out with us Bring a ChairThe more the marrier!Jeff & Sherry Mattingly

Rear parking lot of First Baptist (MJCA), 735 N, Mt Juliet  Rd with our canopy, tables, chairs, information about the post and coins to sell. Our Needham’s POC is Janet.

Doors Open to the public about 7pm (some may show up earlier) and we can set up any time after 4pm and wind down about 8:30.  And wait for the Drone show that starts at 8:45pm.

I have a table (that is Jeff’s), so we would need to get the canopy and everyone bring a chair.  and a few volunteers…This would be right after our Flag take down event.

HAF Coverage #2

This IS our biggest fundraiser of the year

Ladies and Gents, We need your help! Please reply to this email with date(s)/time(s) you can Help.

Please also keep in mind that on Monday 5/25 afternoon we’ll need ALL HANDS to help breakdown.

Please excuse the rough looking chart. I’m not really good at this.

Thursday
5/14/26
Prep Day
Load Trailer
9:00Nancy Britt’s home
Nancy BrittJeff & Sherry MattinglyTerry WardPat UngerPat CostanzoRoger Brugger
Steve IlesPatti WhitmoreJoe ChilandoMason, Nancy’s GrandsonTHANKS TO ALL
Thursday
5/21/26
Rebar and Flag Installation>>>>>>>>BRING AND SMALL WORKSLEDGE GLOVESHAMMERS PLEASE
8:15
Transport to field by 0900
Jeff Mattingly
8:00Field Layout
Mike FaoroPat Unger
9:00Installation
ALL HANDS ON DECKCounty Sheriff’s CrewPat CostanzoChazMike FoleyJohn Herko
????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>ThursdayFridaySaturdaySundayMonday
5/21/265/22/265/23/265/24/265/25/26
One Volunteer7:00 – 10:00XXXXXXXXXPat CostanzoJohn HerkoThe ChatfieldsDennis Wilcockson
John Coulter
Two Volunteers10:00 – 14:00Mike FaoroDelmar SmithCarl PuelsJohn Herko????????????
Scott CryerW. Wayne SmithRoger Brugger????????????????????????
Two Volunteers14:00 – 18:00Roger BruggerSteve IlesSteve IlesPatti WhitmoreRemoval & Clean Up begin @ 14:30
????????????Jeff Mattingly????????????????????????ALL HANDS ON DECK
One Volunteer18:00 – 22:00Rick Wheeler????????????????????????????????????XXXXXXXXX
————–————–————–————–————–————-————-
Needham’s Drone Show5/25/26Show starts at 20:45
Recruiting Event17:00 – 20:15Patti Whitmore
Come hang out with us Bring a ChairThe more the marrier!Jeff & Sherry Mattingly

Rear parking lot of First Baptist (MJCA), 735 N, Mt Juliet  Rd with our canopy, tables, chairs, information about the post and coins to sell. Our Needham’s POC is Janet.

Doors Open to the public about 7pm (some may show up earlier) and we can set up any time after 4pm and wind down about 8:30.  And wait for the Drone show that starts at 8:45pm.

I have a table (that is Jeff’s), so we would need to get the canopy and everyone bring a chair.  and a few volunteers…This would be right after our Flag take down event.

Memorial Day Ceremony

May 25, 2026

Our Honor Guard will be providing a rifle volley and paying Taps for the Wilson County Memorial Day Ceremony at 10:00. 304 E Main St, Lebanon, TN

Then at 13:00, for residents of Del Webb at Lake Providence the Honor Guard will also be providing a rifle volley and playing Taps for their ceremony. 1100 Del Webb Blvd, Mt. Juliet, TN

HAF Coverage

This IS our biggest fundraiser of the year

Ladies and Gents, We need your help! Please reply to this email with date(s)/time(s) you can Help.

Please also keep in mind that on Monday 5/25 afternoon we’ll need ALL HANDS to help breakdown.

Please excuse the rough look of this chart. I’m not really good at this.

Thursday
5/14/26
Prep Day
Load Trailer
9:00Nancy Britt’s home
Jeff MattinglyTerry WardPat UngerChaz S.
Sherry Mattingly
Thursday
5/21/26
Rebar and Flag Installation
8:15
Load the trailer at Nancy Britt’s home. Transport to field by 0900
Jeff Mattingly
8:00Field Layout
Mike FaoroPat Unger
9:00Installation
County Sheriff’s CrewPat CostanzoChazMike Foley
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>ThursdayFridaySaturdaySundayMonday
5/21/265/22/265/23/265/24/265/25/26
One Volunteer7:00 – 10:00XXXXXXXXXPat Costanzo????????????The ChatfieldsDennis Wilcockson
John Coulter
Two Volunteers10:00 – 14:00Mike FaoroDelmar SmithCarl Puels????????????????????????
Scott CryerW. Wayne SmithRoger Brugger????????????????????????
Two Volunteers14:00 – 18:00Roger Brugger????????????????????????????????????????????????
????????????????????????????????????????????????Jeff Mattingly
One Volunteer18:00 – 22:00Rick Wheeler????????????????????????????????????XXXXXXXXX
Needham’s Drone Show5/25/26
17:00 – 21:30Show starts at 20:45Patti Whitmore
Jeff Mattingly

Rear parking lot of First Baptist (MJCA), 735 N, Mt Juliet  Rd with our canopy, tables, chairs, information about the post and coins to sell. Our Needham’s POC is Janet.

Doors Open to the public about 7pm (some may show up earlier) and we can set up any time after 4pm and wind down about 8:30.  And wait for the Drone show that starts at 8:45pm.

I have a table (that is Jeff’s), so we would need to get the canopy and everyone bring a chair.  and a few volunteers…This would be right after our Flag take down event.

American Revolution Exhibit

Traveling through Tennessee cities listed below

Traveling Exhibition at the Odell Horton Federal Building

April 13 – May 22, 2026  |  Memphis, TN

Traveling Exhibition at the Robertson County History Museum

May 25 – 30, 2026  |  Springfield, TN

Traveling Exhibition at the Linebaugh Library

June 3 – 10, 2026  |  Murfreesboro, TN

Traveling Exhibition at the Fite-Fessenden House

June 12 – 19, 2026  |  Lebanon, TN

Traveling Exhibition at the E.G. Fisher Library

June 22 – 27, 2026  |  Athens, TN

Traveling Exhibition at the East Tennessee History Center

June 30 – July 7, 2026  |  Knoxville, TN

May 12th, 2026, AL Post 281 meeting agenda

Screenshot

Agenda for 12 May  2026 Regular Post meeting,  CDP/ Community Center

RM ALPHA….

4:45 TO 5:30 pm, SONS of the AMERICAN LEGION meeting, to be held in the small conference room.   Nomination and Election for SAL leadership.   Candidates are Pat Unger for Commander, Terry Ward for Adjutant and Joe Chilandro at Treasure, but others wanting to serve most certainly are welcome too.    Meeting discussion about election and several projects to talk about.  

5:30 PM Social time of food and camaraderie

6:00 PM/Opening meeting protocol  Welcome all members and guest and all visitors present. 

Recognize former Commanders present and guest and new members.

Recognize and present an appreciation plaque for community service to SRO Joe Bowen , being awarded by 2nd Vice Adderholt. 

Review the posting of the minutes from the last meeting being published on 10 May 26 across the Website to members., recommendation for approval.    

Recognize SAL members present , discussion of status of the Post 281 SAL.  

CDR’s comments and updates

                Boys state funding status, 12 applicants, (4 Mt J HS/8 GH HS currently conducting interviews.  Juliet Rotary funding  $1000, and Del Webb Vet’s Group $425, parents portion to be $100. 

                Commanders’ year in review, and over the last 3 years and as far back to 2018.   

                May’s Calendar events:

                                14 May,  HAF flag prep day @ Nancy Britt’s home, 291 Guill Rd, 0900

                                16 May,  Armed Forces Day at Mission BBQ,  (David Hale to advise)

                                18 May,  RFTW support at Beckwith RD and I-40 Overpass @ 2:30

                                18 May,  RFTW support at QT Fuel Center, Lebanon, @  3:10

                                19 May, RFTW support at Wilson CNTY Vet Center/Lebanon @ 11:45

21 May,  HAF set up day with installation of rebar and flags

                                21 May,  Begin HAF set up and sales assistance with Exchange Club

                                21 May thru 25 May,  HAF coverage for assisting in sales and escorting flag owners and in sales to the public.

                                25 May, ( Memorial Day)  Lebanon Veterans Appreciation Ceremony at the Veteran’s Museum and Veteran’s Center, @ 10:00

                                25 May, (Memorial Day) take down of HAF, return to N Britt’s home and store away, time TBD by Nancy Britt.

                                25 May, Needham’s Nursery , Mt. Juliet Memorial Day Drone Show, @ 7:00PM with Post 281

                                24 May – 29 May, Boy’s State, TN TECH, Cookville,

                Officer’s reports:  1st V  / 2nd V /  Adj / FO / SO / CHAP-sick call /  HG / ALR /  SAL /  Aux  efforts, HAF Sign-up sheets to be passed around,  Needham’s Nursery recruiting booth. 

Old unfinished business  ?    What our future looks like

Current field of proposed Post Officers/ at this current time,

Mike Faoro Commander

Brandon Adderholt  1st Vice

Wayne Smith 2nd Vice

Jeff Mattingly Adjutant

Patti Whitmore Service Officer

Steve Iles Treasure

David Hale Chaplin

Mike Adams  Seargent at Arms.

Discussion regarding a Leadership committee for new/future officer positions and the and open the floor up for nominations of the leadership of the Legion Year of 26-27 , with election taking place at the end of May’s regular post meeting.    

Assemble of the outgoing and incoming officers for the post. 

Administer the Installation of the Post Officers for Legion Year 2026-2027

 New Business/Correspondence/Business for the good of the American Legion

Sign Sympathy Card for The Cundal (Marie) Family.   Acknowledge the receipt of a thank you note from the Queener family. 

Closing Protocol