Eight MBE students comprise Flag Men group

Eight Mountain Brook Elementary students comprise the Flag Men for the school. The morning crew of Ben Harris, Dudley Lawson, Hughes Hancock and Jack Higgins report to duty to raise the flag on the front plaza of the school at 7:35 a.m. The afternoon crew, which lowers the flag at 1:30 p.m. and folds it for storage are Brooks Statham, Clark Griffin, Will Dobbins and Lawton Miller. 

While there is no official selection process, students affiliated with Boy Scouts usually volunteer because they have been trained in how to raise, lower and fold the flag. 

“It is so helpful to have volunteers who know the presentation of the colors and all that the ceremony entails,” sponsor Shannon Millhouse said. “We like to think of our students who volunteer for flag patrol as our Flag Men.”

In addition to performing a flag ceremony on Boosterthon Fun Run Day, the boys also keep abreast of current events that warrant flying the flag at half-mast. 

“Flying our flag at half-mast has occurred on two occasions this school year: remembering 9/11 and in honor of those lost in the recent Washington, D.C., naval shipyard shootings,” Hughes Hancock said. 

“Flying our nation’s flag is a good way to support our country,” Brooks Statham added. 

The Flag Men are considered part of safety patrol and get the added perk of going to Alabama Splash Adventure in May as reward for their service.