St. Johns County’s flag rescue program reaches major milestone

St. Johns County’s American Flag Rescue Program has reached a milestone of 31,000 American flags collected since its launch in 2019.

Volunteers Viki and Mike Cofone retrieved the milestone flag in September from a collection box at the St. Johns County Tax Collector’s Office in St. Augustine.

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Chris Benjamin, a member of the St. Johns County Solid Waste Division, founded the American Flag Rescue Program in 2019 to give area residents a dignified way to retire American flags. Since then, the effort has expanded to offer collection boxes at more than 40 locations throughout St. Johns County.

To commemorate the 31,000-flag milestone, program organizers presented a framed, rescued 48-star American flag for public display at the Tax Collector’s Office annex in St. Augustine. The Tax Collector’s Office hosts flag drop-off boxes at all four of its locations in the county.

Benjamin praised the community dedication that made the program’s growth possible. “This milestone reflects the care our residents have for the American flag and the commitment of the volunteers and community partners who make this program possible,” Benjamin said. “Every flag collected is an opportunity to ensure it is treated with honor and respect.”

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The flag collection initiative supports the St. Johns County Strategic Plan’s Community Trust priority. By partnering with local businesses, civic groups and government entities, the program encourages resident participation and volunteer service throughout the county.

County residents can bring unserviceable flags to collection boxes at any of the following St. Johns County Tax Collector offices:

• Main Office: 4030 Lewis Speedway, St. Augustine

• St. Johns Office: 725 Flora Branch Road, St. Johns

• Southeast Office: 6670 U.S. 1 South, St. Augustine

• Ponte Vedra Beach Office: 151 Sawgrass Corners Drive, Ponte Vedra Beach

For more information and a complete list of collection locations, visit sjcfl.us/outreach. Questions may be directed to the St. Johns County Solid Waste Division at [email protected] or 904-827-6980.

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