Members of the Post 7764 Honor Guard served as color guards during a special flag raising ceremony at North Tattnall Elementary School (NTES) on the morning of Thursday, August 11, 2022. Superintendent Gina Williams, PhD., and Board Chairman Richard Bland were in attendance along with NTES Principal Christine Jenkins, PhD., Assistant Principal Dently Crews, and several NTES students.
The flag was flown over the United States Capitol in Washington, DC, on July 20 at the request of U.S. Representative Rick W. Allen. It will be prominently displayed at NTES to honor the combined 65 years of service of Reidsville Elementary School and Collins Elementary School. The school buildings, which were constructed in 1955 and closed at the end of the 2021-22 school year, served a combined total of 134 years of service to the Tattnall County School System as high schools, middle schools or elementary schools. The certificate accompanying the flag was signed by J. Brett Blanton, Architect, United States Capitol.
Members of the Post 7764 Honor Guard included Ronnie McCall, Commander; Bobby Kennedy, Senior Vice Commander; Wayne Campbell, Junior Vice Commander; Ronnie Thomas, Quartermaster; Gina Hall, Service Officer; Billy Morgan, Adjutant; Joe Boyett, President of the Auxiliary, and Earl Boyett, former Junior Vice Commander. Ronnie Thomas served as color guard commander, Wayne Campbell served as color guard sergeant, and Billie Morgan served as bugler during the ceremony. Joe and Earl Boyett were not present due to medical appointments.
Quartermaster Ronnie Thomas explained the ceremony at the beginning of the event and issued the commands to initiate the ceremony. The color guard marched to the base of the flagpole, unfolded the flag and ran it up the pole while those in attendance placed their hands above their hearts and veterans saluted as bugler Billy Morgan played Reveille. With the flag raised, Commander Ronnie McCall read the flag certificate. Afterwards the flag was retrieved and folded as rainy weather was predicted. That action ended the ceremony.
The flag will be encased along with the certificate and presented to Principal Jenkins at a later date.