Flags Presented to Pettis County Courthouse In a Moving Ceremony [PHOTOS]

At 9:30 Thursday morning (June 15), the Voilture 333 of the 40&8 Veterans Organization presented four flags to the citizens of Pettis County at the Pettis County Courthouse. The audience for the flag ceremony consisted of state and local dignitaries, including State Representative Stanley Cox, Sedalia Mayor Elaine Horn, City Councilman Wiley Walter and all three Pettis County Commissioners.

The Smith Cotton High School JROTC, under the command of FFC Robert Webb, carried the flags to their final station in the courthouse lobby with a military precision that those who have watched them before have become accustomed to. Commander of the 40&8 Tony Gallagher led the ceremony with a history lesson on the flags.

Not coincidentally the ceremony took place on June the 14^th, National Flag Day, which according to Gallager was designated by Congress in 1949.  The formal presentation of the flags and a Commemorative Plaque was made to Presiding Commissioner, John Meehan, who accepted them on behalf of the people of Pettis County.

The four flags consisted of the United States flag, the State of Missouri flag, a POW/MIA flag and a Voilture 333 flag.  They join the 100 American Flags that fly above the streets of downtown Sedalia.

The moving ceremony was concluded by the benediction given by Jim Gaertner of the 40&8. The Flags are proudly displayed on the south side of the Pettis County Courthouse Lobby.