Students learn flag protocol
Nate S., Evelyn S., and Marvin K., all National Elementary Honor Society students, raise and lower the federal and state flags outside Buffalo Ridge Elementary school earlier this year.
The 30 members of the National Elementary Honor Society (NEHS) at Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) learned about flag protocol and assumed color guard duties as part of a new initiative for NEHS students this past school year. NEHS provides opportunities for fourth through sixth grade students to participate in projects centered around the organization’s four pillars of character: scholarship, service, responsibility and leadership.
BRE registrar Corin Meibos, a former U.S. Army Sergeant, led the program and taught students about responsible flag handling for federal and state flags, the Flag Code, and how to fold and retire flags. After the lessons, students signed up for week-long color guard duties, raising and lowering the flag outside BRE each school day.
Luca, a NEHS fourth grader, said, “I do think it is important to raise and lower the flag each day because the flag represents our country!”
Another part of the curriculum was learning when flags should be flown at half-mast; students created informational flyers that were posted on the school’s main entrance. Additionally, NEHS students created and gave a school-wide presentation about the American flag at an assembly.
NEHS members coordinated a few other leadership projects this school year. They ran a peer mentoring initiative where they created interactive stations for kindergarten and first-grade students. The students also partnered with nonprofit Bin Blessed (see related article page 20) for a school-wide donation drive. Bin Blessed provides essential items to families with critically ill children.
“One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is that community is important and you should always be willing to help it,” said Nate, a fifth grader and NEHS officer.
NEHS was founded in 2008 and has more than 17,000 chapters and 1.4 million active members. BRE’s chapter was established during the 2017-2018 school year. Students must be nominated by teachers on merits including leadership and academic excellence.
For more information, visit nehs.org.
Corin Meibos, Buffalo Ridge Elementary school registrar and Army veteran, helps Cooper E., Henry K. and Sam G. fold the state flag at a National Elementary Honor Society meeting in February.
By Celeste McNeil; photos courtesy of Buffalo Ridge Elementary School
