Sioux Falls’ Scheels Hosts First American Flag Exchange
The Sioux Falls Scheels location partnered with American Legion Post 15 to honor the American flag by hosting its inaugural flag exchange event. Community members were invited to bring in old, worn flags for respectful retirement and receive a new flag while supplies lasted.
Event Details
- Scheels offered 250 flags for the exchange, according to Andrew Thiessen, hunting manager and veteran at Scheels.
- The event is a new initiative for the Sioux Falls store, following successful programs at other locations.
- Scheels committed to donating $25 to the American Legion for every flag exchanged, up to $3,000.
“It’s something that the other stores have done and seems to be really successful, so this is our first year doing it here at this store, and I think it’s going really well so far,” said Andrew Thiessen.
Support for Veterans
Thiessen emphasized that supporting veterans is fundamental to Scheels’ values. As an employee-owned, veteran-supporting company, Scheels takes pride in creating a welcoming environment for veterans transitioning out of the military.
“To Scheels, I think it’s just a very core foundation of who we are as a company,” Thiessen explained. “We pride ourselves on being employee-owned and a veteran-supporting organization. To me, as a veteran, that’s huge because it’s very welcoming to vets who are transitioning out of the military.”
Significance of the Event
Bill Peters, the Department of South Dakota American Legion Membership Chairman, highlighted that the event serves as a meaningful reminder of the flag’s symbolism and the values it represents.
“The event served as a reminder of what the flag represents,” said Bill Peters.
Through this flag exchange, Scheels and the American Legion aimed to foster patriotism while supporting local veterans and their families.
Author's summary: Sioux Falls’ Scheels and American Legion Post 15 launched their first flag exchange event, combining patriotism with veteran support by retiring old flags and donating to veterans’ causes.