As the first light of Memorial Day crept over Port Bolivar, a hushed gathering assembled at the local fire station. Just before sunrise on Monday, the community came together for a poignant flag protocol ceremony, a time-honored tradition dedicated to those who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.
Led by George King, Director of Training for the Port Bolivar Volunteer Fire Department, the ceremony was a reverent tribute to both the flag and the fallen.
“This ceremony is to ensure that the honor of the flag is maintained,” King explained. “That honor has to be extended through this type of display. It’ll be done in reverence. We will call the names of those who have given their all. We will celebrate internally, not externally, what this freedom actually means. The protocol that we follow is basically respect for the flag and respect for those soldiers that have fallen.”
The scene was one of solemn dignity. Two U.S. Marines stood guard, their presence a silent testament to the sacrifices of their brothers and sisters in arms. Two dozen attendees watched in quiet reflection as Vicki Jo Simpton raised the ceremonial flag to full staff—a symbol of the nation’s strength and unity.
Then, with deliberate care, the flag was lowered to half-staff, a gesture of mourning for those lost in service. As it descended, the names of fallen service members were read aloud, each one a reminder of courage, duty, and sacrifice.
At noon, the observance continued as the ceremonial flag was retired and the Memorial flag was raised once more to full staff, where it remained until sunset—a visual proclamation that the nation’s resolve endures, even as it remembers its heroes.
In the stillness of dawn and the warmth of midday, the Port Bolivar Fire Station’s ceremony stood as a powerful reminder: Freedom is not free, and honor is not given—it is earned, remembered, and upheld.
For those who gathered, the ritual was more than tradition; it was a sacred promise to never forget.
