Flying the American flag at each Gibson Electric member service center may seem like a simple task, but it’s a team effort that a group of dedicated employees take seriously.

Vice President of Engineering Randy Dotson, who served in the Army National Guard for 12 years, works closely with lineworkers at each location. Donny Thomas in Troy, Jason Mills in Tiptonville, Kendall Byassee in Clinton and Jamie Moore in Alamo help ensure flags fly appropriately throughout the year.

Dotson says their secret weapon — or jewel, pun intended — is Telecommunications Assistant Dawn Jewell.

“Dawn gets the credit,” Dotson said. “She found a website and enrolled in email alerts so we know when flags are to be flown at half-staff and for how long.”

Dotson takes care of the flag in Trenton and reaches out to his contacts at the other locations. Those lineworkers and member service representatives also help keep an eye on when flags need to be replaced due to normal wear.

“I’m honored as a veteran to have this responsibility,” Dotson said. “The flag is a symbol of our freedom and our democracy.”

Dotson can relate those themes to the cooperative principle of “Democratic Member Control.” Our customer-owners have a voice, electing who represents them on the board of trustees and enjoying equal voting rights (one member, one vote).

But he says flying the American flag proudly and responsibly at each member service center is an opportunity to honor the people who have served and are serving our country.

“That’s what’s important,” he said. “Lots of men and women made the ultimate sacrifice defending that flag and everything it represents.”

The flag crew’s job doesn’t end with replacing worn flags with new ones. Michael Atkins, a Troy lineworker, takes the flags to the Union City VFW for retirement.

As we celebrate Flag Day on June 14, veteran groups and Scouts across the country will hold disposal ceremonies, which may include a flag detail respectfully dipping the retired flags into kerosene and putting them on a rack over the fire.

Other approved methods of disposal include burying the folded flag in a dignified box or recycling used flags.

The entire Flag Code is available at govinfo.gov, and several legitimate websites also distill the lengthy code into easy-to-follow care guides and half-staff alerts.

In the end, it’s not about the flagpole or the process. It’s about respect for the symbol, for the people it represents and for what it stands for. And at Gibson Electric, that respect is evident every day.