MANSFIELD — One year of weather is all it takes to tarnish the flags at Mansfield Faith Assembly Church.
Back in 2011, the newly founded mens club at the non-denominational Christian church decided on behalf of its eight veterans to replace the flags annually the week before Memorial Day.
The church at 2727 Lexington Ave. takes a lot of wind as it stands near the peak of a hill, assistant pastor Michael Neff said.
“One year is all it takes,” he said. “The damage from this hill is so extensive — the wind and the rain just overwhelms it.”
The flag ceremony, which takes about 10 minutes, has a moment of silence for those fallen while serving the United States of America before the removal of the flag and a raising of the replacements.
The two flags on the poles are the American flag and a Christian flag below it.
The ceremony ends with a dedication and prayer for all of God’s children and the nation as well as those who carry authority above its citizens.
“We pray for all those in authority over us because we forget we are called upon to pray for those appointed over us,” he said. “If you don’t like it, pray.”
