Thursday, Nov. 11, is Veterans Day, honoring those who served to protect our country, our people, and our freedoms. Showing our appreciation to these heroic men and women means a great deal—and at Patriot, it takes on added significance, because both of our owners have strong family connections to the military.
Matt LaVergne’s grandfather, Joseph Majoric LaVergne, served in the U.S. Army during World War II with tours in the Philippines, New Guinea, and as part of our post-war presence in Japan. Upon his return, he opened a plumbing business in 1953, starting what would become a family tradition: Matt’s father, Lowell, opened his own plumbing business in 1971, and 35 years later, Matt launched Patriot with Sherry Erickson.
Sherry’s grandfather served in World War II as well—Bob Millar was in the 15th Regiment, 3rd Division under Gen. George Patton from 1941-1945, including stints in Algeria, Morocco, the Rhineland, Sicily, Tunisia, Naples, and France. Bob’s son Andy (Sherry’s father), then served in the U.S. Army in Vietnam, while Sherry’s brother Robert was in the Army in the 1980s. Additionally, Sherry’s husband, Paul, was in the Navy—serving on the USS Missouri Recommissioning Tour as a photojournalist.
Giving back with savings
As you can see, there’s a very good reason we chose “Patriot” for our name. And we believe in giving back to those who have given so much to us: Veterans always receive a 5% discount on our services, and between Oct. 15 and Nov. 15, they also can get a $50 credit toward any Patriot service. If you happen to be 65 or older, we’ll add our 5% senior discount on top of it all, too!
Flying your flag? Know the etiquette!
Flying the U.S. flag is a perfect way to show your support for our veterans—not only on Nov. 11, but every day. However, there are specific guidelines to display the flag properly. For example, did you know that if you fly it at night, the flag is supposed to be illuminated?
Patriot is looking for a veteran who wants to fly the flag at all times, but needs new lighting at their home to do it. Send us your nominations at tech@callpatriot.net by Nov. 15, and we’ll select one winner on Nov. 16 to receive a credit of up to $500 toward illuminating that flag!
And to help you mark Veterans Day, here are some other guidelines for displaying your flag from the U.S. Flag Code. (For full details, visit www.military.com/flag-day/us-flag-code.html)
The flag should be displayed only from sunrise to sunset on buildings and stationary flagstaffs in the open. However, if properly illuminated at night, the flag may be displayed 24 hours a day.
When raising and lowering the flag, raise it briskly and lower it ceremoniously.
During inclement weather, the flag should not be displayed unless it is an all-weather flag.
If flying a flag at half-staff, the flag should first be raised to the peak and then lowered to the correct half-staff position. When lowering the flag for the day, it should be raised again to the peak and then lowered fully.
The flag should never touch anything beneath it, including the ground or floor.
If a flag has become damaged or worn to the point that it is no longer fit for display, it should be no longer be flown—and it should be destroyed in a dignified way, such as by burning it.
Remember, we want your nominations for a deserving veteran! Please send them to tech@callpatriot.net by Nov. 15. And don’t forget to show your gratitude for our veterans—on Nov. 11 and every other day of the year.
We’re here to serve you!
Our fast, friendly team can help with almost any project—flag-related or not. Give us a call at 509-662-6262 today!