Over 3,000 flags retired in honor of late Greene Co. sheriff

GREENE COUNTY — An American flag flies over the Greene County Fairgrounds.

It’s a powerful symbol, especially for those like Tim Spradlin who served our country.

“Everywhere we wore that flag. It represents freedom. It represents opportunity. It represents hope,” Spradlin said.

This year 3,400 tired and tattered American flags were collected and brought to the fairgrounds to be respectfully retired.

Sowan Harper, a boy scout, said his troop was honored to help get them ready.

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“It is what we stand for. It is what we pled our loyalty to ... We take great pride in that, we have it on all our uniforms,” Harper said.

The tradition started eight years ago with a cup of coffee and an idea shared between Randy Arnett, a Xenia businessman, and then Greene County Sheriff Gene Fischer.

Both men have since passed away, but their vision lives on.

Gail Fischer, the late sheriff’s wife, said it means so much to her.

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“It means the world to see a tradition that was important to him continued. The people who cared that came out, the people that contributed the flags, it just means so much the world to me,” Gail said.

It means so much to others who attended too. Each person has a different reason.

“I got a brother who was in Vietnam and now the VA. I’m here to support him,” Jud Targett said.

A fiery display, but a respectful retirement to thousands of flags this Flag Day.

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