On Friday May 24th, 2024, Stephenville’s Downtown Plaza became the City’s 4th location for a Turnbow-Higgs American Legion Post 240 used flag drop box when Legionnaires, Sid Moon, and Walter Dotson delivered, set, & secured the box on a concrete slab prepared and placed by Stephenville maintenance.
The Downtown Plaza drop box project began in late 2023, when Post 240 Adjutant, Chris Grantham, was contacted by city manager Jason King, who proposed a joint project to convert an old video drop box to a new used Flag Drop Box to be located within the Downtown Plaza. The box had become City property with the bankruptcy closing of Hastings in 2016. The proposal was eagerly accepted by Post 240 membership, and work on the project began with the support of local businesses. Allied Body and Frame cleaned and painted the old box and Signs Express printed and applied the vinyl wrap designed by Post 240 adjutant, Chris Grantham.
Other Stephenville flag drop box locations are.
Walmart grocery entrance- Post 240’s first flag drop box 2008-2009 project resulted in a painted patriotic flag themed, drop box placed at HEB super market parking lot near the Washington Street entrance. It was relocated to its present location near the Walmart grocery entrance in 2012.
Dowell Ace Hardware & American Legion Building- Became the City’s 2nd & 3rd flag drop box locations in 2021 when Paul David 'PD’ Peak's quest for an Eagle Scout project began with the desire to do something that would help veterans. A Stephenville High School freshman, and a member of Boy Scout Troop 39, ‘PD’ contacted Post 240 and was invited to a monthly meeting where he learned Post 240 had two old newspaper dispensers that Paid Up for Life Legionnaire, Rondoe Smith, had purchased for use as flag retirement drop boxes. The dispenser’s internal panels were removed by Legionnaires Walter Dotson and Sid Moon to make ready for use as Flag Drop Boxes. With Troop Master Cory Smith’s approval, ‘PD’ and Troop 39 picked up the dispensers to be repaired, cleaned, painted, and decorated. Rick Tennyson, a military veteran and owner of Signs and Designs, donated the signs.
On March 16th, 2021, ‘PD’ and his Boy Scout Troop 39 delivered and presented his Eagle Scout project to Turnbow-Higgs American Legion Post 240, during its regular monthly 3rd Tuesday meeting held March 16th at the American Legion building located at 801 East Washington. PD’s family, friends, neighbors, Troop Masters and Troop 39 members and their parents were on hand to support and congratulate ‘PD’.
Post 240 is forever grateful to 'PD' Peak and Troop 39 for the work involved in producing these much need, attractive and functional Flag Drop Boxes. Our National Flag should receive the respect it deserves. When the Flag becomes worn and frayed it should be properly disposed of, preferably by burning. These Flag Boxes will be monitored by Post 240 and flags collected will be properly disposed of by burning.
